NASCAR Preview: Rockingham Race Weekend

Written by Ashleigh McGregor & Sean McKean

Credit - Zack Albert / Getty Images

Whilst the Cup Series may be off this weekend, the Xfinity and Truck Series return for a marquee weekend, as they both return to the long-abandoned Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina.

Rockingham is a 0.94-mile D-shaped oval with 22-degree banking in Turns 1-2 and 25-degree in Turns 3-4. Further, the straightaways each have eight degrees.

Since its last running in 2013 for Trucks and 2004 for Xfinity, the track surface here has aged considerably, which will make for interesting racing.

Below are the start times for each race plus lap count:

• Trucks: Friday, 18 April, 17:00 local (22:00 UK) – 200 laps

• Xfinity: Saturday, 19 April, 16:00 local (21:00 UK) – 250 laps

Below are the defending winners for each race:

• Trucks (2013): No. 30 - Kyle Larson (Turner Scott Motorsports)

• Xfinity (2004): No. 30 - Jamie McMurray (Braun Racing)

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Written by Ashleigh McGregor

Credit - Robert Laberge / Allsport

Last week Kyle Larson went for the three peat by entering in the NASCAR Truck Series, Xfinity Series and Cup Series. He started the weekend off knowing he wouldn't be able to achieve the feat of winning all three races in one weekend as he placed second in the Truck series. However, he went on to dominate the xfinity series and cup series, taking home both wins. 

Justin Allgaier put up a tough fight against Larson to try and claim the victory but the championship leader finished the weekend in third place. 

This week the series moves to Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina. Where the Xfinity series hasn't raced since 2004, a whopping 21 years. 

Dash 4 Cash Finale 

Rockingham is hosting the final round of the dash 4 cash race. With four rounds broken up across four different circuits, each round has four drivers competing to secure the $100,000 bonus prize. Justin Allgaier has claimed two of the rounds- one in Homestead-Miami and the second at Bristol Motor Speedway. 

Austin Hill won a round at Martinsville Speedway - essentially taking away the additional bonus prize from Allgaier who could have received an extra $600,000 for winning all of the dash 4 cash races.  

The final round of the dash 4 cash will have drivers; Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, Sammy Smith and Carson Kvapil competing for the bonus prize. Allgaier, who no longer can get the additional bonus prize, will still be looking to take another win and set a record in most Dash 4 Cash winners. It's up to Kvapil, Smith and Jones to see if they can take it away. 

Credit - NASCAR Digital Media

Race Weekend Guide

With no Xfinity races happening on the Rockingham Speedway since 2004, it will mean challenges for the drivers. Rookies can be on a bit of a more even playing track with well seasoned drivers as no one has yet raced on it. All drivers will be searching for the best track positioning and figuring out where they can get an edge on the competition. Testing over the years has taken place at this circuit but race day and testing are two totally different things. 

The driver coming in with the most knowledge of the track will be Kasey Kahne. As he raced for the Xfinity Series at this track back in 2004. After many years off from racing though, one could argue that he is still a bit on the back foot. 

Katherine Legge returns to the Xfinity series at the Rockingham race. She had her debut Cup series start earlier this season. She had a solid run until there was slight contact with another car and she spun out and her race later came to an end. For her return race, her goal will be the same as it was at her Cup start- have a clean race and make it to the checkered flag.

Track Insights

Drivers are covering 235 miles this weekend across 250 laps. Stage 1 and Stage 2 are 60 laps each with the final stage making up the remaining 130 laps. 

Practice and qualifying are early in the morning on Saturday, April 19th. Drivers are given one hour to practice and then straight into qualifying to see who is lining up where on the grid. Start time for the race is later on at 4:00pm EST (21:00 UK). Saturday is expected to be warm with a high of 83 degrees but with an overcast- extreme heat should not be a problem. There is a small chance of rain at the start of the race which could affect strategy if the rain does come.

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Written by Sean McKean

Credit - Rainier Ehrhardt / Getty Images

Away from the usual scheduling, the Truck Series now travels to uncharted territory for most at the Rockingham Speedway. 

Trucks have only run this race track twice in 2012 and 2013. The 2012 edition was much more competitive, with the lead being swapped constantly before Kasey Kahne took victory. 2013, however, saw a young Kyle Larson dominate enroute to his last Trucks victory before going to Cup full time. 

Race Predictions 

With his versatility, I pick Ty Majeski to win this weekend. Given how he usually performs on this style of track coupled with his usual pace out the gate, Majeski should be on everyone’s radar.

Credit - Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images

Two storylines to look out for

1. Welcome back!

Rockingham returns after a more than ten-year hiatus! Of the current drivers, only two of them – Matt Crafton and Norm Benning – have raced on the 0.94-mile oval. This place is uncharted territory for most drivers, so it will be interesting to see how they cope.

2. Heim is on it

As per usual for the Truck Series, Heim is on a hot streak currently. Before this weekend, he sits with four top-fives, two wins and one further top-ten. Heim will surely bring this momentum to Rockingham.