ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County’s two iconic race tracks will be sharing $2 million reallocated by the state government to help with facility improvements.
The allocation was included in Senate Bill 382, which was primarily for disaster relief — although it started as legislation to make changes in dentistry law — and to make modifications to the Appropriations Act of 2023.
That funding had originally been set aside for a pedestrian bridge crossing over U.S. 1 from Rockingham Dragway to Rockingham Speedway.
Instead, legislators divided the funding to provide grants of $1.7 million to the dragway and $300,000 to the speedway for continued facility improvements.
Rep. Ben Moss, R-Richmond, said the speedway needed a little extra to help with its renovations and he checked with the dragway owners to see what they needed done to host larger events.
In late 2021, the state allocated $9 million to the county “for water and sewer and related infrastructure projects” at Rockingham Speedway in late 2021.
The governor had originally proposed $10 million each for the Rock, Charlotte Motor Speedway and North Wilkesboro Speedway. By the time the bill was passed, $13 million was appropriated for Charlotte and $18 million for North Wilkesboro — both of which are owned by Speedway Motorsports Inc. SMI also owned Rockngham from 2004-2007.
Part of that was used to repave the track at the end of 2022
The partial funding for the bridge had already been allocated and Moss said he and Sen. Dave Craven decided splitting it was the best way to keep the money in the district and benefit both tracks, and keep it from being rerouted to the general fund.
“We felt like it was a good call,” Moss said.
Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed the bill on Nov. 26 calling it “a sham,” mostly because of several transfers of appointments. See Cooper’s veto message below.
The Senate passed a veto override by a 30-19 vote on Dec. 2, and the N.C. House of Representatives did the same on Dec. 11 with a 72-46 split.
Dragway co-owners Dan VanHorn and Al Gennarelli have steadily been making improvements to the facility since buying it from longtime owner Steve Earwood in late 2022, including repaving the track and upgrading bathrooms — partially funded by state grants.
Click here to read about improvements made ahead of the 2023 season.
Earlier this year, the tower received a new roof and renovations to the third-floor suite, partially funded by grants from the Cole Foundation and Richmond County Tourism Development Authority.
VanHorn said the latest funding will go toward improving the concrete grandstands and fencing on the left side of the track. The work is expected to be complete during the off-season.
That local and state support was recognized during the dragway’s Christmas party on Wednesday, with plaques and vests with the track’s logo being presented to Rockingham City Manager Monty Crump and Tourism Director Meghann Lambeth. There were also awards for Moss and Craven, who were unable to attend.
“That support that we have outside the walls of this track is just remarkable,” VanHorn said. “The amount of upgrades and stuff that we’ve done — and (are) going to do — has 100 percent come from the people I’m talking about. That’s them believing in what we do.”
Crump said the financial assistance was a “thank you” from the community to the vision of VanHorn and Gennarelli to make the investment.
Citing attendance statistics from Lambeth, Crump said there were an estimated 99,000 visits from 45,000 people at the dragway this year.
Since 2017, the best year for the dragway was 2019 when three stages were set up on the grounds for the three-day Epicenter Festival. That year the track brought nearly 150,000 to the county.
Street Outlaws helped the dragway bring in more than 100,000 people in 2022, the best year post-pandemic.
The speedway has steadily increased since it started hosting regular events in 2021. The biggest attendance year was 2023, with help from the Hot Rod Power Tour and the Tailgates N’ Tallboys truck and music festival, drawing nearly 50,000 to the track.
Attendance records are expected to increase in 2025 with the return of NASCAR next April.
“Motorsports has long been the engine powering tourism in Richmond County, establishing a legacy that continues to thrive today,” said Lambeth. “The enduring relationship between tourism and motorsports is undeniable, making Richmond County a true motorsports destination.
“Whether it’s straight-line racing at Rockingham Dragway, roaring stock cars on the iconic oval at Rockingham Speedway, or dirt flying at Windy Hill MX in Ellerbe, Richmond County is Rockin'!”
