ROCKINGHAM — After securing the 2024 Crown 9 Championship at Rockingham Speedway in November with a three-peat performance, Sergio Pena said he was going to spend the off-season giving his No. 3 car “some TLC.”
Runner-up Mark Dysart did just the opposite.
Until last week, Dysart’s No. 00 Crown Vic remained on the trailer due to other projects he was working on.
On Wednesday, Dysart said there had been a couple of small upgrades made to the car, and he hoped to be finished by Friday to give it “a good washing” before the race — “and get that elusive victory.”
The second season of the Rock’s own grassroots racing series cranks up Saturday, March 22 with Pena and Dysart facing off against each other and a host of other drivers from across the Carolinas — including several from Richmond County.
The top two drivers from the first season ran neck and neck during each event and both have quite a bit of racing experience.
Pena, of Winchester, Virginia, started racing go-karts as a kid before moving to Formula cars and NASCAR late models. He placed eighth at the Rock in the 2012 K&N Pro Series race, won by Tyler Reddick. Pena also operates a driving school at the track, and ran in last year’s Lucky Dog Racing League’s endurance race.
Dysart — a Wisconsin native who grew up in Illinois and now lives in Aberdeen — drove in regional road races from 1987-1996, before switching to dirt-track racing.
“Over the last 10 years or so, I’ve accumulated over 20 runner-up finishes and we are ready to celebrate a big win!” Dysart said.
Doug Horn, who placed third in the first two races, said he is also planning to compete again this season and is “beyond excited” to be back at the Rock for the full running of the series.
Last year’s season was supposed to feature five races, but two were canceled. This year, there will be nine — one each month from March through November.
“It’s always a thrill to race at such an iconic venue, and again this year I’ll be representing the Stronghold Freedom Foundation on the car,” Horn said. “Their support and dedication to veterans is something I deeply believe in, and I’m honored to help raise awareness for such an important cause.”
Horn, an Army Special Ops veteran, is an instructor for Pena’s driving school.
Joining the series this year is insurance agent and Rockingham City Councilman Bennett Deane.
Deane said he was at the speedway’s open house last July when the series was announced “and knew immediately it was something I wanted to do.”
However, scheduling conflicts prevented him from signing up.
Deane said he “developed a real love of racing” in his youth and early teens when he raced go-karts. Participating in three stock-car driving schools increased his “desire to race again.”
“I’m really excited to join the other drivers in the Crown Series and hope the DBR No. 42 (Deane Boys Racing) will be competitive,” Deane said. “This is a great grassroots racing series that is family friendly and that makes it especially attractive.”
Deane, who is also vice chairman of the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority Board, said his entire family and friends from outside the county “are coming to be a part of the experience.”
“I’m very appreciative to the Russells and all of the awesome people at the Rockingham Speedway for utilizing The Rock for amateur racing events, in addition to the big events like the upcoming NASCAR races in April,” Deane said.
The Franklin’s Rod Shop team will have three cars in this weekend’s race, with drivers Steven Franklin, Eric Sutton and Alex Bradley behind their respective wheels.
Franklin drove in the first race, and Bradley competed in the second and third in different cars. During the final race of the inaugural season, Sutton, owner of EHS Racing, placed third.
The team from Cooke Boys Septic Services — Andy Cooke and Eli “Otis” Russell — are planning to return for their second season. Russell competed in all three races in 2024, but his alternator died at the start line during the final showdown. Cooke ran in the second and third races.
“The Cooke boys will be there looking for a crowd,” Cooke told the RO on Tuesday.
Gaskins Motorsports, based in Rock Hill, South Carolina, is also planning to field three cars this season.
Derick Gaskins, who also competes in the MB Drift series at the Rock, debuted in the Crown 9 Series at the final event and managed to lead a few laps during the heat race against season sweeper Pena.
His father, former dirt track driver Steven “Smokey” Gaskins, competed in the second and third events of the first season — his first time racing in 30 years.
Gaskins said Tuesday they were finishing a third car “for a buddy of ours.”
“I want to learn more driver etiquette and progress my driving further,” Gaskins said regarding his participation in the series. “A win would be cool but it’s all about making memories with my friends and family at the end of the day.
“A bad day at the track is still better than a good day at work.”
