The day might have been appropriately cold for mid-December – but on the one-mile oval of Rockingham Speedway, the action was hot and heavy last Saturday as drivers got in a bit of practice for the upcoming Polar Bear 150.

A total of 22 drivers braved the cold to hit the track and get in some early practice for the Jan. 1 street-stock race.

One of those was Jimmy Elledge, crew chief for NASCAR Sprint Cup rookie driver Scott Speed’s No. 82 Red Bull Racing Toyota.

Elledge is no stranger to the Polar Bear 150, having run in the race last year. His 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carlo needed repairs after wrecking in last year’s race.

But Elledge had his car back on the track on Saturday.

Unfortunately, the car is headed back to the shop after being collected in a spin during the afternoon session.

The mishap didn’t dampen Elledge’s spirits, however. He said with the long Sprint Cup season, there isn’t much down time available for racing. The Polar Bear 150 – a New Year’s Day event – fits perfectly into that short window.

The chance to race at a track with the history of Rockingham Speedway is a major plus, Elledge said.

“It’s a shame we (NASCAR) don’t run here any more,” Elledge said.

Elledge finished the day atop the speed charts despite wrecking. He was joined there by J.D. Frey, a mechanic for Juan Pablo Montoya’s No. 42 car.

Frey, a member of the JR Motorsports team, is driving Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s old street stock car.

That vehicle, as well, will need major repairs to its front end after hitting the inside wall during practice.

Frey said the Cup season is busy for team members – especially those that make the Chase, as Montoya did this year.

But when the season ends, the need for speed takes over, and Frey is looking forward to the chance to get behind the wheel in the Polar Bear 150.

The race attracts drivers from all over the area, and varying skill levels. One driver who will be trying the race out for the first time is Tracy Hack, 33, of Moorestown, Kentucky. Driving a 1970 Chevrolet Camaro, Hack said he’ll be racing on asphalt for the first time.

He usually races on dirt tracks.

“I’ve always wanted to race on asphalt, and this sounded like a good place to start,” Hack said after pulling back into the garage area following his practice run.

Hack won’t take very lofty expectations into the Polar Bear 150.

“I just want to finish,” Hack said.

The Polar Bear 150 is part of the Frank Kimmel Street Stock Series, and series director Frank Kimmel said he’s excited to bring the series back to Rockingham Speedway for the third straight year.

More than 60 cars are pre-registered for the race, Kimmel said.

That should make for the largest field in the brief history of the race, he added.

“We are excited to be coming back to Rockingham, and we’re looking to build on the two previous races,” Kimmel said.

Another practice session is slated for Thursday, Dec. 31 at 1 p.m.

Race-day qualifying gets under way at 10 a.m., with the green flag set to drop at noon.

For more information or to order tickets, contact Rockingham Speedway at 205-8800 or visit the speedway’s Web site at www.rockinghamspeedway.com. General admission tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the race.

Suite packages are also available. Tickets for children under 12 are $5.

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