If you’ve noticed more 18-wheelers than usual making their way through Rockingham on U.S. 1 - or more folks eating in our restaurants and shopping in our stores - there’s one logical explanation.

It’s race week in Rockingham.

Once again, it’s time for the Carolina 200 - a two-fer for race fans.

And in a day where money is tight for many of us, getting two-for-the-price-of-one is a rare find, indeed.

Saturday’s race lineup at Rockingham Speedway features a 75-lap race for the UARA Stars Series, followed by a 150-lap USAR feature.

Both series feature up-and-coming young drivers - some of which you could very well see at the NASCAR level soon.

Want an example of that? Just look at Clay Rogers - who has dominated all three USAR races at “The Rock” over the past few years, and this year has moved up to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

One rather cool story line shaping up for this weekend is Rogers’ younger brother, Brad, who has taken over his USAR ride and done quite well, thank you. He’s leading the USAR points standings entering this weekend’s race at Rockingham.

There are other interesting stories this weekend, as well: Brian Keselowski - older brother of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Brad Keselowski and a Cup driver himself - will take off from the Cup Series this weekend and attempt to win at Rockingham - and thus get his name inscribed on the new rock outside the historic speedway.

And Chase Elliott - teenage son of NASCAR legend Bill Elliott - will be back at “The Rock” attempting to win his second race. Last year, Chase Elliott dominated the Friday night Sunoco National Tour event, and then also ran in the Carolina 200 on Saturday.

This year, Chase will stick to the Carolina 200 as he attempts to get his name engraved on that rock outside the track once again.

He’ll have competition from another teenager - 15-year-old Ryan Heavner, who is back for another crack at “The Rock” after a seventh-place finish in the USAR race last spring.

Not bad after starting 14th. Not bad at all.

As of earlier this week, 31 drivers were entered in Saturday’s USAR race.

And when all is said and done, one of them will do a burnout on the front straightaway and then make the triumphant trip to Victory Lane.

The 75-lap UARA Stars race, meanwhile, will feature up-and-coming drivers such as Robert Johnson - son of legendary NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson - and Kyle Grissom, son of former NASCAR driver Steve Grissom, who started nine races at Rockingham and beat Dale Earnhardt Sr. in a 1990 Busch Series race.

So, it looks like a fun weekend of racing at “The Rock” as usual.

See you at the track!

Contact sports editor David Vantress at 997-3111, ext. 14 or by email at dvantress@heartlandpublications.com