The Rockingham Dragway

By Samantha Chambers


The Rockingham Dragway is North Carolina's finest in drag racing facilities. Rockingham Dragway, or "The Rock" as many call it, is known for hosting major national drag racing championships annually and other various events throughout the year. Flourishing with a fascinating history in performance and a penchant for excellent entertainment, the Rockingham Dragway offers several attractions for all spectators. Located in Marston, North Carolina, Rockingham Dragway is easily accessible to residents of the Raleigh, Charlotte, and Triad areas.

Rockingham Dragway was initially opened in 1970 by Bill Land and LG DeWitt, but experienced a rebirth in the early '90s when a change in ownership allowed Rockingham Dragway to offer more events more often. Rockingham Dragway, which is identified as one of only three major U.S. dragstrips to host multiple events in the straight-line series, was built way before many modern speedways yet sets the standard by which many speedways are currently built. Coupled with over four decades of historic prominence and established roots, the dragway's newly found entertainment has fostered a boost in participation from talent and fans alike. Nowadays, the dragway offers weekly races and performances from February to November and is a major tourist attraction for those visiting Marston. New facilities such as grandstands, scoring equipment, Musco lighting, and a resurfaced track have helped to bring the established dragway back to glory. Thanks to this facelift, the facility is suited for large amounts of visitors and keeps up with even the most modern of speedways.

While Rockingham Dragway is most well-known for its hosting of various racing events such as the Holcomb Motorsports 10.5 Civil War Races and The Super Chevy Show, the stadium also hosts a fair amount of concerts and corporate events. Acts and events that have been hosted by Rockingham Dragway in the past include Kid Rock, Metallica, the Official North Carolina Barbecue Cookoff Competition, and the Lollapalooza series. The stadium also offers Friday night events for teens and young adults that include racing events and summer Midnite Drag series and offers the track to grassroots racers on most Saturdays, creating a well-balanced mix of activities for all visitors.

Even though Rockingham Dragway certainly has enough to boast about already, the owners have also launched many of their events as campaigns to deter illegal street racing and to aid the local economy. Their Midnite Drag series and the Saturday grassroots races offer safe alternatives for racers who may otherwise satisfy their need for speed through riskier behaviors.

Steve Earwood, the current owner of the Dragway, created the Outlaw Street Drags program and provided the Rockingham Speedway as a more secure way for people to race. The raceway also helps to stimulate the local economy by attracting visitors to the small town of Marston.




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