ROCKINGHAM — Dozens of race teams from NASCAR’s Xfinity and Craftsman truck series are expected to be at Rockingham Speedway for an open test next week.
The test, scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 28, will be open to the public, with free admittance to the grandstands in Turn 4, promoter Track Enterprises announced in a press release on Tuesday.
The organizational test will give drivers — most of whom have not been at the Rock — a chance to get a feel for the legendary track ahead of the April races.
“We’re excited to see cars and trucks on the track and to let race fans catch a glimpse of what they can expect when NASCAR returns to Rockingham Easter Weekend,” Bob Sargent, president of Track Enterprises, said in the release.
“This will be the first opportunity of the new year for a lot of these teams to work together before they head for Speedweeks in Daytona, so not only is this test important to our team, it’s equally important to all the race teams that will be here,” Sargent added. “It’s a unique situation so we’re thrilled to see them get some pre-season work in at the Rock.”
The Xfinity (formerly Busch) Series hasn’t held a race at the track since 2004 and the truck series had races there in 2012 and 2013.
Matt Crafton, who has been racing in the Craftsman Truck Series for a quarter century, is the only regular driver in the series who rounded the oval in the 2013 N.C. Education Lottery 200, according to the release.
Crafton started fifth in the race and ended at sixth place, finishing behind Chase Elliot (5th), Johnny Sauter (4th), Brendan Gaughan (3rd), Joey Logano (2nd) and winner Kyle Larson. He went on to win his first of three series championships that year.
In the 2012 race, Crafton placed third behind James Buescher and winner Kasey Kahne.
Rajah Caruth, who was named the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series Most Popular Driver, is looking forward to making his first trip to the Rock for the test and the Black’s Tire 200. Click here to read about the title sponsorship.
“Personally, as a massive NASCAR fan and both a student and historian of the sport, going to a historic place such as Rockingham is going to be such an amazing experience,” Caruth said in a statement.
“Seeing North Wilkesboro come back to life and being able to race there the last two years was amazing,” Caruth added. “I can’t wait to see the same type of excitement and enthusiasm surround Rockingham. The track is high banked and high speed so that’s right in my wheelhouse.”
At 22, Caruth was not even two years old when the Cup and Xfinity series last ran at the Rock, and two months from being 10 for the last truck race.
“All the times I’ve driven down to Myrtle Beach, Florence, and Darlington over the years you see the sign for Rockingham,” added Caruth, who drives for Spire Motorsports. “I’ve never been down that way but always wondered what it was like, so I can’t wait to go for the first time.”
The truck race is scheduled for Friday, April 18, followed by races in the ARCA Menards Series East and Xfinity series on Saturday, April 19.
Ahead of the races, Rockingham will host the return of ThunderFest downtown on April 17, featuring meet-and-greets with drivers and music from the Marshall Tucker Band.
Click here to read about ThunderFest.
A private tire test for Goodyear was held in November featuring three drivers in the Xfinity Series — Justin Allgaier, Sheldon Creed and Brandon Jones. Former NASCAR driver Jamie McMurray, who won the last four Xfinity races at the Rock, was also there testing for ARCA.
Allgaier, the 2024 Xfinity Series champion, placed 27th in the 2008 ARCA race at the track. Jones drove in the truck series in 2013, but didn’t run at Rockingham. However, he said he ran a late model stock at the Rock in 2013.
Click here to read about the tire test.
Tickets and more information for the races are available at racetherock.com and tickets will be available for purchase at the track the day of the open test.