Andy Hillenburg: ‘The Rock’ is back

For the first race since NASCAR left the Rockingham, NC track in 2004, new track owner Andy Hillenburg said he was proud to successfully stage an event just six months after completing the purchase from Speedway Motorsports Inc.

"We put Rockingham Speedway back on the racing map," Hillenburg said. "We did this kind of the way I've always worked my way through racing. We just jumped in and did our best."

Hillenburg said he sold out more than 4,000 seats in the track's suites and estimated grandstand ticket sales in the 12,000 range.

"We had enough people here to pay a record purse for ARCA and pay the bills," he said. "We're going to try harder the next time. I know some things I can do better and we'll start trying to fill those seats one fan at a time.

"I think we can do this, I really do."