NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Rockingham Speedway

Pickup truck racing events in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series have been held at the Rockingham Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina in 2012 and 2013, and is scheduled to return to the track in 2025.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at Rockingham Speedway
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
VenueRockingham Speedway
LocationRockingham, North Carolina, United States
Corporate sponsorNorth Carolina Education Lottery, Cheerwine
First race2012
2025
Last race2012
Distance203.4 miles (327.3 km)
Laps200
Previous namesGood Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 Presented by Cheerwine (2012)
North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at The Rock Presented by Cheerwine (2013)
Most wins (team)Turner Scott Motorsports (2)
Most wins (manufacturer)Chevrolet (2)
Circuit information
SurfaceAsphalt
Length1.017 mi (1.637 km)
Turns4

The race consisted of 200 laps, 203.4 miles (320 km).[1] The inaugural race was run on April 15, 2012, and was won by Kasey Kahne.[2]

History

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Kyle Larson beats Joey Logano to win the 2013 event

On September 2, 2011, NASCAR announced that Rockingham Speedway would hold a Camping World Truck Series event for the 2012 season.[3] During the inaugural race, Nelson Piquet Jr. started on the pole position and Kasey Kahne won the race.[2][4]

In 2013, the race went for 205 laps instead of 200 laps because of green-white-checkered rules. The rookie Kyle Larson won his first truck series win in his first year but the race became notable because of controversy. Truck series veteran Ron Hornaday Jr. got contact with Kyle Busch Motorsports driver; the rookie Darrell Wallace Jr. In a similar fashion to an incident with Kyle Busch at Texas two years prior in the WinStar World Casino 350K. Hornaday tapped Wallace sending him into the fences. Ron Hornaday took responsibility and apologized but claimed that he did not intend to wreck Wallace; NASCAR, the media and fans felt differently when they saw a video that showed Hornaday frowning towards Wallace's truck before the tap. NASCAR black-flagged Hornaday and sent him to the back of the field on the restart, later fined him $25,000 and put him on probation until June 12. The penalties were also controversial because the fans, drivers, and medias wanted Hornaday's penalties harsher since Kyle Busch was parked after the Texas incident.[citation needed]

In 2014, the Truck Series did not return to the track due to financial struggles.[5]

Track Enterprises, a short track promoter that promotes numerous regional races owned by Spire Sports and Entertainment, and promotes ARCA races at the Illinois State Fairgrounds Racetrack, DuQuoin State Fairgrounds Racetrack, The Milwaukee Mile, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, and the Champion Racing Association, was unable to agree with the Wisconsin State Fair to host a race in Milwaukee after hosting in 2023 and 2024. Promoters moved the race to Rockingham in an announcement made August 29, 2024. It will be held during the only 2025 NASCAR Cup Series' off-week for Easter.[6]

Past winners

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Year Date No. Driver Team Manufacturer Race Distance Race Time Average Speed
(mph)
Ref
Laps Miles (km)
2012 April 15 4 Kasey Kahne Turner Motorsports Chevrolet 200 203.4 (327.34) 1:51:54 107.239 [4]
2013 April 14 30 Kyle Larson Turner Scott Motorsports Chevrolet 205* 208.485 (335.524) 1:59:03 103.318 [7]

Multiple winners (teams)

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# Wins Team Years Won Ref
2 Turner Scott Motorsports 2012, 2013 [4][7]

Manufacturer wins

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# Wins Make Years Won Ref
2   Chevrolet 2012, 2013 [4][7]

References

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  1. ^ "Good Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 Presented by Cheerwine". Jayski.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Kahne rallies from back to win at Rockingham". NASCAR Wire Service. NASCAR. April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  3. ^ McGee, Ryan (September 2, 2011). "Sources: Rockingham to host Trucks". ESPN. Retrieved April 14, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d "2012 Good Sam Roadside Assistance 200". racing-reference.info. April 15, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2012.
  5. ^ Gluck, Jeff (October 25, 2013). "Trucks will return to Eldora, skip Rockingham in 2014". USA Today. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  6. ^ "Rockingham Speedway Celebrates NASCAR's Return in 2025". Track Enterprises. Retrieved 2024-08-29.
  7. ^ a b c "2013 North Carolina Education Lottery 200". racing-reference.info. April 14, 2013. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
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