Rockingham Speedway was packed this past weekend as fans turned out in force for the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series races. With the event being a major success, talks are heating up about possibly bringing the Cup Series back to the historic track after more than two decades.
FOX reporter Bob Pockrass, who attended the event, weighed in on whether Rockingham is ready for the sport’s top-tier series. This came after Bob Sargent—President of Rockingham Speedway and head of Track Enterprises—hinted at the possibility of a Cup return.
“I’m very hands-on,” Sargent told The Charlotte Observer. “I’ve been talking to people since Thursday night—NASCAR officials, whether they were here or not. Mike Helton [former NASCAR president and current board member] was here yesterday. I spoke with teams, veteran drivers, sponsors, fans, and my own staff. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive.”
He added, “It’s a process. But we’re on NASCAR’s radar, and part of that process.”
Despite the excitement, Pockrass expressed caution. He suggested that Rockingham might be better suited to remain a home for the Xfinity and Truck Series, at least for now.
“We had Trucks on Friday and Xfinity on Saturday. Today’s crowd was sold out, and the autograph session was swamped six hours before the race even started,” he said.
Pockrass noted that while the weekend was a success, the track lacks the infrastructure required to host a modern Cup event. “Pulling this weekend off took a huge effort. A Cup race would need a much bigger investment—millions more. Things like parking, facilities, and other amenities just aren’t up to Cup standards yet.”
He concluded by advocating for Rockingham’s current role: “Why mess with a good thing? This weekend was incredible for Trucks and Xfinity. Let those series shine here. I understand the financial appeal of a Cup race, but what we saw this weekend was special. Rockingham can be a showcase for these series moving forward.”.b. .b
