ROCKINGHAM — Two racing legends will be back in town next week to help kick off the long-awaited return of NASCAR to the Rock.
Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace will be signing autographs during ThunderFest in downtown Rockingham on Thursday, April 17 and will be at the track’s Fan Zone D.J Stage at 2 p.m. April 18 for a live, unfiltered Q&A ahead of the Black’s Tire 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, promoter Track Enterprises recently announced.
Schrader started racing in the ARCA Menards Series in the early ‘80s and competed through 2023. He also ran in the Cup Series from 1984-2013, the Busch Series (now Xfinity) from 1987-2010 and the truck series from 1995-2017.
While he never took the checkered flag at the Rock, Schrader managed 10 top 10 finishes in the Cup Series — including coming in second to Kyle Petty the ‘91 GM Goodwrench 500 — and four in the Busch Series.
Schrader also placed second behind Joey Logano in the 2008 ARCA race, and seventh in the first race of 2009 after winning the pole.
Wallace had better luck in the Busch Series with a dozen top 10 finishes, securing a win in the 2001 Sam’s Club 200. He also came in second to Dale Jarrett in 1991. He only had three top 10s in the Cup Series, with his best run being second behind Joe Nemecheck in 2002.
Wallace’s brother, Rusty Wallace, holds the track’s qualifying speed record of 158.035 mph set Feb. 25, 2000. Rusty Wallace returned to the Rock in February 2023 for the kick-off of the Moonshine and Motorsports Trail.
Both drivers were in the truck series in 2013, but did not compete at Rockingham.
The two are now hosts of the Herm and Schrader podcast on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Dirty Mo Media platform.
In addition to Wallace and Schrader, ThunderFest — organized by the city of Rockingham and the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority — will include meet-and-greets with seven drivers — Rajah Caruth, Matt Mills, Bayley Currey, Andres Perez de Lara, Dean Thompson, Kaden Honeycutt and Connor Mosack — and a live performance by the Marshall Tucker Band.
The event is scheduled for 4-9 p.m. at Harrington Square and will also feature vendors.
The green flag is scheduled to lower in the Black’s Tire 200 at 5 p.m. April 18. The following day will feature action from the ARCA Menards Series East and the N.C. Education Lottery 250 Xfinity race.
Tickets for the races are still available at racetherock.com, as well in person at Rockingham City Hall from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fridays.
