ROCKINGHAM — Those attending this weekend’s open house at Rockingham Speedway can own a piece of racing history.
Vice President of Operations Justin Jones on Friday posted a short video of a core sample from the track and announced it would be raffled off during Saturday’s kick-off event.
Jones told the RO the sample was taken from turn 4 about a month ago and the area has already been refilled. He has another sample in his office.
The sample will come with authentication paperwork and tickets are being sold at $5 each, with half of the proceeds going toward the Michigan-based charity Racing for Kids, which “uses its distinctive position within the racing world to bring attention and funding to child health institutions,” according to its website.
Jones has previously posted a video of the sample on March 1, with some people commenting that it be donated to a museum and the RO’s Russell Parker suggesting to auction it for a charity.
Shortly after posting the video on Friday, Jones said he had someone call and offer $1,000 for it.
“There’s some true fans of this track, that’s for sure,” Jones said.
The drawing will be at 4 p.m.
The core sample raffle is the latest addition to a full day of events at the legendary track’s open house.
Former car builder and owner Will Cronkite, author of “I Was a NASCAR Redneck,” will join former driver Donnie Allison at Rockingham Speedway for a meet-and-greet from 9:30-11 a.m. Saturday, after the gates open at 9.
Singer Brandon Hartt, who last month released a video shot at the track for his song “Good Years,” will perform an acoustic concert at noon.
Then at 1 p.m., the FASS Big Rig Series will run exhibition laps around the oval.
Motorsport 4the Masses will be offering ride-alongs and leading hot laps for attendees to take their own vehicles on the infamous track. The cost is $35 in advance and $50 the day of the event. Check-in for the pre-paid drivers opens at 8 a.m. and the last chance to sign up is 1:30 p.m.
Allison Legacy Racing will have a race on the track’s infield road course starting at 2:30 p.m.
Following that will be the M4TheM CARBS Series Happy Hour at 3:30.
The Classic American Racing Barnstormer Series will open at Rockingham Speedway April 23 and close out Oct. 1. M4theM owner Rob Bolling said CARBS events will feature vintage stock cars and include practice laps, qualifying and an exhibition race for “a living history experience.”
Bolling said the CARBS and Allison Legacy drivers will be running test and practice laps off and on throughout the day, adding that the garage will also be open all day for fans to see the old stock cars.
Jones previously said there will also be bounce houses, food trucks and track merchandise — including a limited supply of vintage items.
Parking and admission to the open house are free. The only costs, Jones said, will be for driving on the track and any food or collectible purchases.
All attendees for the open house should enter at Gate D off of N.C. 177.
Seat Time Racing School will be at the speedway on Sunday, March 6 for its first of five events scheduled for this year.
In all, more than 30 events are on the speedway’s schedule for 2022.
