Uncertainty continues to loom over a once-iconic NASCAR track, Rockingham Speedway.
The 0.94-mile D-shaped asphalt oval nestled in the sandhills of south central North Carolina is on the auction block. It’s one of 12 race tracks owned by Darryl Cuttell and the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) that were recently listed for auction.
Auction house Tranzon is handling the sale and sealed bids are due by Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. ET.
Initially, Rockingham Speedway was for sale at an asking price no lower than $10 million, but Cuttell has instead decided to take the track and others to auction.
“Our business has taken a different direction from what we originally anticipated, and I have made the decision to exit the racing business through the sale of
these properties,” Cuttell, CEO of Darana Motorsports Holdings, said in a statement. “Our goal is to complete the sale of these properties and our exit from the racing business by the end of the year.”
Cuttell is grappling with a financial strain as he battles liens and lawsuits totaling more than half-a-billion dollars. Elon Musk’s SpaceXAI alleges it has overpaid between $500 to $800 million for services from Darana Hybrid, an international electro-mechanical contractor company that Cuttell also owns. Cuttell has denied the allegations, but amid his financial troubles IHRA has laid off employees and canceled some of its racing series.
Cuttell bought Rockingham in December 2025 from North Carolina nightclub magnate and real estate investor Dan Lovenheim.
In August, as details of NASCAR’s 2027 schedule were trickling out, Track Enterprises — which promotes races at Rockingham — announced that the top-level stock-car series would not return to “The Rock” next year after holding races for the Truck Series and second-tier O’Reilly Auto Parts Series there in each of the past two seasons. In a statement, Track Enterprises said the decision came “amid overall uncertainty at the facility.”
“Bringing NASCAR back to Rockingham was a special opportunity, and the support we received from race fans, competitors, sponsors, local officials, and the entire community exceeded every expectation,” Bob Sargent, president of Track Enterprises, said in a statement. “While we’re disappointed that NASCAR won’t be racing at Rockingham in 2027, we remain optimistic about the future and look forward to exploring opportunities to bring racing back in the future.”
Rockingham Speedway history, top moments
Rockingham was once a regular stop for NASCAR’s top-level Cup Series. It opened in 1965, and from 1966 to 2003 it hosted two Cup Series races annually – one in the spring and one in the fall. Richard Petty won 11 races there, and his son Kyle took three checkered flags at Rockingham.
It is also home to some unforgettable moments in NASCAR history.
In 1994, Dale Earnhardt clinched his seventh championship at Rockingham. Then, in 2001, it was the first race held after the Intimidator’s tragic death and became the place where fans gathered to mourn and watch the sport resume without one of its legends.
On Nov. 9, 2003, Matt Kenseth clinched his championship there. Kenseth followed that up by beating Kasey Kahne by 0.010 seconds in a photo finish in the final Cup Series race held at Rockingham on Feb. 22, 2004.
Rockingham then became the victim of mismanagement and NASCAR’s ideas of expanding its footprint to the west. After it became somewhat of a bargaining chip in a lawsuit, NASCAR took its Rockingham race dates to Texas and California. Speedway Motorsports — which acquired the track through the lawsuit — auctioned it off in 2007.
The Truck Series returned to Rockingham for a two-season stretch in 2012 and 2013 — with Kahne and Kyle Larson winning those races — but again, NASCAR left after it said the track “failed to meet financial obligations.”
In 2021, when ownership of the track was in Lovenheim’s hands, former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper allocated $9 million from the American Rescue Plan Act to repair and refurbish Rockingham. The track got a repave, a new media center was built and other upgrades were made.
NASCAR did return in 2025 with races for the O’Reilly Series and Truck Series on Easter weekend, and grandstand tickets sold out. Tyler Ankrum took the checkered flag in the truck race, and Sammy Smith won in the O’Reilly Series. Those races returned this year with momentum and a positive reception as Corey Heim was victorious in trucks, and William Sawalich rolled into victory lane in the O’Reilly competition.
The future of Rockingham is now murky, at best. If and when NASCAR ever returns is unclear.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rockingham Speedway, iconic NASCAR track, is up for auction
