ROCKINGHAM — While wet weather bookended the weekend, dampening motorsports activities, sunny skies on Saturday allowed both of Richmond County’s legendary tracks to kick off their 2023 seasons.
Rockingham Dragway hosted the 252 March Madness no prep race, the first event on the fresh concrete and using the new timing system.
Jamie Van Cleef of Ford, Virginia, took home the top prize in the small tire category, with David Brinkley in “The Patriot” Camaro won the small tire division. Other winners were Robbie Dollar in the True Street division, Donald Smith in the Modern Street category and Hunter Craig in Junior Dragster.
But those weren’t the only cars rolling at the first event of the year.
Racers with the International Model Drag Racing Association tested their remote-controlled cars on a scaled-down drag strip near the front gate.
See more photos from the event below the story.
Click here to read about recent renovations at Rockingham Dragway.
The Dragway has a full schedule of events for the year, with only two open Saturdays through mid-December. There are more events slated this month:
- March 18 – Blood, Sweat and Gears
- March 24-25 – Dig or Die No Prep
- March 26 – Import Face-Off
Across the street, Rockingham Speedway welcomed back Monster Truckz for the third year.
The two-hour show featured monster truck drivers performing jumps and a motorcycle stunt team.
There were two shows on Saturday, but the Sunday show had to be canceled because of rain. According to speedway officials, tickets will be honored at other Monster Truckz shows or refunded.
The Speedway will host the Ducks Unlimited Banquet on March 17 and MB Drift returns March 18-19 to kick off its third season at the track.
In addition to the annual Spring Matsuri, the grassroots drifting series — which moved to Rockingham after Myrtle Beach Speedway shut down — has teamed up with Driftaholic Racing for the Battle of Little Rock 225 Shootout, with the winner taking home $2,225, to run as a tandem event.
MB Drift will also host four competitive events — April 29-30, June 17-18, July 29-30 and Sept. 9-10 — in addition to its annual Halloween Havoc Oct. 21-22.
During open drift times, free ride-alongs are available for spectators 18 and older.
Click here to read more about the speedway’s 2023 schedule.
