The unmistakable roar of NASCAR engines filled the air at Rockingham Raceway Park on Wednesday as several Sprint Cup Series drivers came to the track to get in some testing for the March 28 race at Martinsville.

According to Rockingham Speedway president Andy Hillenburg, the new half-mile Little Rock oval is popular with drivers because it has similar dimensions to the Martinsville Speedway track.

“They’re able to test brakes, tires, chassis configurations,” Hillenburg said. “It’s all part of what we’re trying to do with the track.”

In fact, the entire Rockingham Raceway Park complex has been used over the past five days, Hillenburg said: The one-mile oval and the road course was used for a ChumpCar World Series event over the weekend; the Spring Fling Legends/Bandoleros event used the Little Rock track; and the NASCAR testing on Wednesday brought more cars onto the facility.

Dale Inman, a consultant with Richard Petty Motorsports, was at Little Rock on Wednesday, stopwatch in hand, timing laps for RPM drivers as they got their cars out onto the half-mile oval and pushed them to their limits.

Inman has been involved in motorsports since 1950, most of that work coming with Richard Petty in one capacity or another. He was part of seven NASCAR championships with Petty and one with Terry Labonte.

Now, he just helps out where needed.

Rockingham Speedway is situated well for drivers wanting to get ready for the Martinsville race, Inman said. It’s the first short-track race of the year, and coming to Rockingham helps the drivers adjust to the different style of driving Martinsville demands.

“It’s great to have a facility like this close by,” Inman said.

Since Rockingham is no longer on the NASCAR schedule, unlimited testing is allowed at the track.

The Sprint Cup Series is in Bristol, Tenn. for the Food City 500 this Sunday before heading to Martinsville next weekend for the Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500.

Richard Petty Motorsports drivers on hand for Wednesday’s test session included Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 9 Budweiser Ford; Elliott Sadler, driver of the No. 19 Stanley Ford; Paul Menard, driver of the Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford; and A.J. Allmendinger, driver of the No. 43 Insignia/Best Buy Ford.

Roush Fenway Racing also had some drivers in Rockingham on Wednesday, including Matt Kenseth, driver of the No. 17 Crown Royal Ford; and Carl Edwards, driver of the No. 99 Scotts Ford.

For Sadler’s crew chief, Wally Rogers, Wednesday’s testing was a chance to try some car configurations and try to get an edge for Martinsville.

“We’ve had a pretty good car out here today,” Rogers said. “We like to get out here and shake down our cars. We don’t get to do much testing any more, so when we get a chance, we like to get out here.”

Getting to come back to The Rock is an added bonus, Rogers said. “We miss it here,” Rogers said. “This was always a great place to race.”

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