ROCKINGHAM — The grassroots racing series at Rockingham Speedway is being put on hold.
The track announced Monday afternoon that it was “pausing” its signature Crown 9 Championship Series “that has meant so much to us, our racers, and our fans.”
“We sincerely apologize to our drivers, spectators, and the community who have supported this series with unwavering passion,” reads a Facebook post. “Your dedication helped build something truly special at The Rock, and for that, we are incredibly grateful.”
The series was first announced last July during the speedway’s open house by Dustin and Matt Russell.
Five races were planned for the inaugural season, but only three were held, with driver Sergio Pena taking the checkered flag in each.
Nine races were scheduled for this season, with one each month from March-November. However, only the March and May races were held. Derick Gaskins — who also competes in the MB Drift Series at Rockingham — and Pena won those races, respectively.
Click here to read about the March race.
Click here to read about the May race.
Many of the drivers in the series were local to Richmond County, including Andy Cooke, Eli Russell, Steven Franklin and Bennett Deane.
The post also addresses the pending sale of the track, which was announced soon after NASCAR’s return after more than a decade with races in both the Xfinity and Craftsman Truck series, as well as the ARCA Menards Series East, in April.
“As for the elephant in the room—yes, the track is still for sale,” the post reads. “And yes, we want it to continue. To thrive. To grow. To become everything it was meant to be. We believe in the legacy and potential of Rockingham Speedway, and we know it’s a place where the right vision can take root and flourish.”
While the future of the Crown 9 Series and the track itself is currently unclear, the speedway is still hosting MB Drift’s Summer Matsuri July 19-20.
MB Drift also has one more competition scheduled for Aug. 30-31 and Halloween Havoc slated for Oct. 25-26.
Click here to read about Round 1.
Click here to read about Round 2.
Rumble at the Rock, a high-performance driving event, is also on the schedule for Aug. 9-10.
