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A look at Rockingham Speedway's return to stock car racing after being left behind by NASCAR in 2003. For ESPN: The Magazine
  • On most weekday mornings Rockingham Speedway owner Andy Hillenburg, in blue polo, gathers with local friends at the Citgo gas station outside of Rockingham, N.C., to shoot the breeze. They call it "The Barbershop." Pictured with Hillenburg are, from left, Bill Pattan, Bo Ussery and Tommy Deese.

  • On most weekday mornings Rockingham Speedway owner Andy Hillenburg, in blue polo, gathers with local friends at the Citgo gas station outside of Rockingham, N.C., to shoot the breeze. They call it "The Barbershop." Pictured with Hillenburg are, from left, Bill Pattan and Bo Ussery.

  • On most weekday mornings Rockingham Speedway owner Andy Hillenburg, in blue polo, gathers with local friends at the Citgo gas station outside of Rockingham, N.C., to shoot the breeze. They call it "The Barbershop." Pictured with Hillenburg are, from left, Bill Pattan and Bo Ussery.

  • On most weekday mornings Rockingham Speedway owner Andy Hillenburg, in blue polo, gathers with local friends at the Citgo gas station outside of Rockingham, N.C., to shoot the breeze. They call it "The Barbershop." Pictured with Hillenburg are, from left, Bill Pattan and Bo Ussery.

  • On most weekday mornings Rockingham Speedway owner Andy Hillenburg, in blue polo, gathers with local friends at the Citgo gas station outside of Rockingham, N.C., to shoot the breeze. They call it "The Barbershop." Pictured with Hillenburg are, from left, Bill Pattan and Bo Ussery.

  • David Ball and his son, Tristan, from Marshall, N.C., working together in a crew for a UARA series race at Rockingham Speedway.

  • Cigarettes and race cars, two classic North Carolina specialties - a mechanic working on a ARA series car in preparation for a pole qualifying round, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • Air filters awaiting approval by race officials at Rockingham Speedway, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • Track spotters at work on top of the viewing stands at Rockingham Speedway, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • Track spotters at work on top of the viewing stands at Rockingham Speedway, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • Track spotters at work on top of the viewing stands at Rockingham Speedway, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • Pole qualifying at Rockingham Speedway, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • The press room viewing stands at Rockingham Speedway, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • Rockingham, N.C., residents greet ARCA series race car haulers on Friday, April 17, 2009, as they parade through town before returning to the Rockingham Speedway for the Carolina 200 on Sunday.

  • Rockingham, N.C., residents greet ARCA series race car haulers on Friday, April 17, 2009, as they parade through town before returning to the Rockingham Speedway for the Carolina 200 on Sunday.

  • Thunderfest, a day-long celebration of racing that dates to the days of NASCAR races at the Rockingham Speedway, once again returned to downtown Rockingham, N.C., in advance of the Carolina 200, Friday, April 17, 2009. This installation clocked participants for how fast they could change a tire with an air gun as if they were part of a pit crew. Four-year-old Trey Smith puts on glove prior to taking his turn at the challenge.

  • Inflatable race car-themed slides and tunnels at Thunderfest in downtown Rockingham, N.C. Thunderfest, a day-long celebration of racing that dates to the days of NASCAR races at the Rockingham Speedway, once again returned to downtown Rockingham, N.C., in advance of the Carolina 200, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • Austin McKee, 14, left, and Casey Hillenburg, 12, son of Rockingham Speedway owner Andy Hillenburg, were selling programs for the upcoming Carolina 200 during Thunderfest in downtown Rockingham, N.C.

  • A Thunderfest installation clocks participants for how fast they could change a tire with an air gun as if they were part of a pit crew. Thunderfest, a day-long celebration of racing that dates to the days of NASCAR races at the Rockingham Speedway, once again returned to downtown Rockingham, N.C., in advance of the Carolina 200, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • A granite rock in front of Rockingham Speedway bearing the names of all the winners from past NASCAR races and the new rock to the left.

  • Rockingham Speedway Owner Andy Hillenburg in his office at the Speedway, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • Rockingham Speedway Owner Andy Hillenburg, in blue polo, presenting the pole winner with a trophy inside the Speedway, Friday, April 17, 2009.

  • A Thunderfest installation clocks participants for how fast they could change a tire with an air gun as if they were part of a pit crew. Thunderfest, a day-long celebration of racing that dates to the days of NASCAR races at the Rockingham Speedway, once again returned to downtown Rockingham, N.C., in advance of the Carolina 200, Friday, April 17, 2009.


  • An eager participant at the wheel of a remote controlled car race during Thunderfest in downtown Rockingham, N.C. Thunderfest, a day-long celebration of racing that dates to the days of NASCAR races at the Rockingham Speedway, once again returned to downtown Rockingham, N.C., in advance of the Carolina 200, Friday, April 17, 2009.


  • Selling tickets for the Carolina 200 during Thunderfest in downtown Rockingham, N.C.

  • An overgrown miniature version of the enclosed viewing stands at the nearby Rockingham Speedway, which escaped a similar fate after Andy Hillenburg purchased the famed NASCAR track at a public auction for four million dollars.

  • An overgrown miniature version of the enclosed viewing stands at the nearby Rockingham Speedway, which escaped a similar fate after Andy Hillenburg purchased the famed NASCAR track at a public auction for four million dollars.

  • Two granite rocks outside of the Rockingham Speedway. The one on the left is the original rock, engraved with all of the winners of past NASCAR races, while the one on the right was placed there after Andy Hillenburg purchased the track in 2007. .

  • The front of the Rockingham Speedway.

  • The stands at the Rockingham Speedway.


  • Rockingham Speedway Owner Andy Hillenburg, in red, with employees he hired back after purchasing the track, from left, Fire Chief David Knight, Head of Security Larry McNeill, and Ticket Sales Manager (FACT CHECK) Ann Street, Sat., April 18, 2009.

  • Rockingham Speedway Owner Andy Hillenburg, in red, with employees he hired back after purchasing the track, from left, Fire Chief David Knight, Head of Security Larry McNeill, and Ticket Sales Manager (FACT CHECK) Ann Street, Sat., April 18, 2009.

  • ARCA/REMAX series cars during warm-up at Rockingham Speedway, Sat., April 18,2009.

  • Turn four at Rockingham Speedway.

  • A camper on the infield and close to turn three at Rockingham Speedway.

  • A camper on the infield and close to turn three at Rockingham Speedway.

  • Turn one at Rockingham Speedway.

  • Turn one at Rockingham Speedway.

  • Early morning wrenching at the Rockingham Speedway.

  • Early morning wrenching at the Rockingham Speedway.

  • U.S. 1 passes right beside the Rockingham Speedway.

  • Race fans from Michigan at the Rockingham Speedway.

  • Race fans from Michigan sit were massive grandstands once stood, removed after NASCAR pulled out of Rockingham Speedway.

  • A pit crew awaits for the return of their car during warm-ups for ARCA/REMAX series cars at the Rockingham Speedway.

  • One of the biggest challenged facing new track owner Andy Hillenburg will be pulling in enough fans for non-NASCAR associated races.

  • A pit crew member adds another sponsor to the car prior to the start of a ARCA/REMAX series race at Rocking Speedway.

  • Shawn Power, Volunteer firefighter from Mountain Creek, N.C., watches over the pit area at Rockingham Speedway.

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