ROCKINGHAM — The sound of small engines echoed throughout the “Little Rock” Saturday as drivers raced go-karts around half of the half-mile track.
The race was organized by Clint Mills of Marshville, who started racing at the age of 5 and ran late-model cars at the historic Rockingham Speedway.
The “Little Rock”, a replica of Martinsville Speedway, was built by former track owner Andy Hillenburg.
The drivers were separated into various classes, including both kids and adults.
Not only did they have to race against each other, but also the weather as clouds started rolling in early in the afternoon.
Mills said the event had 57 entries — which is low compared to the 200-400 usually seen at dirt tracks — but not all of them showed.
One who did was 28-year-old Daniel Armstrong of Davidson, who said he’s been racing since he was 4.
Armstrong, who is used to running on dirt tracks, said driving on the asphalt oval was “different.”
He is one of several drivers who came out to test for an upcoming event at Charlotte Motor Speedway — “just kinda getting a feel for the asphalt again and seeing what we need to do.”
Armstrong said the track was smooth and the tires seemed to hold up well.
“I think it’ll be fun to do a couple of times a year,” Armstrong said.
The popularity of asphalt racing has died down over recent years, but Mills said he’s hoping to help spark a resurgence of the sport.
“It’s a good family sport,” he said, which was evidenced by children and adults working together on some of the karts. “I’d rather have my son racing than addicted to other things in the world.
“We come out here and have a good time, and that’s what it’s all about.”
The race is one of the first events held on the speedway grounds since it was purchased in August of 2018 by Rockingham Properties, LLC for $2.8 million.
Majority owner Dan Lovenheim stopped by to catch some of the action.
Organizers of MB Drift recently announced that they were bringing 10 races to Rockingham Speedway in 2021, with the season’s Ice Breaker being held on Feb. 20.
The CARS Tour race, originally scheduled for March 6, is now slated for Oct. 30.
“This place right here has history and everybody in the NASCAR world knows that,” Mills said. “If he (Lovenheim) keeps me on, we’re gonna try to do the best we can to turn this place back into something of what it used to be, pack it out.”
