Zach Efron (left) gets a few pointers from Andy Hillenburg on the set location at Iowa Speedway. Part of the unnamed film, starring Efron and Dennis Quaid, was filmed at Rockingham Speedway. Photo contributed by Rockingham Speedway

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Tween idol, Zac Efron, and Hollywood long-timer, Dennis Quaid, spent last weekend in Rockingham at “The Rock” learning to handle a race car and wrapping up filming on their latest flick.

The movie, still unnamed, follows the story of a small-town boy (Efron) as he pursues his dream of becoming a race car driver.

The film crew shot previous scenes in Chicago and at the Iowa Speedway, but the former Disney star learned to drive like a pro at Rockingham Speedway this past weekend, through the Fast Track Driving School.

“The crew was in Richmond County over the weekend, and I’ve heard that the actors were spotted around town when they weren’t on set at the track,” said Robert Ingraham, director of operations at the speedway.

Speedway owner and former NASCAR driver Andy Hillenburg served as lead stunt coordinator, according to Ingraham.

Fast Track Driving School provided the cars and expertise needed to film the last segment of the movie.

So, if you thought you saw famous faces from the big screen hanging around town last weekend, chances are you were probably right.

Other notable movies featuring scenes shot at the speedway include: “The Dale Earnhardt Story,” “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” and Bollywood film “Ta Ra Rum Pum.” Also, qualifying challenges for the World’s Strongest Man Competition, to air world-wide on ESPN, were filmed at the speedway about a month ago.

— Staff Writer Kelli Easterling can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 18, or by email at keasterling@heartlandpublications.com