Over the next few weeks, auto racing fans in Richmond County should have plenty to do.

With the IHRA Nitro Jam this weekend, and the Carolina 200 UARA doubleheader in two weeks, there will be enough racin’ to satisfy both types of fans: the drive-in-circles kind, and the drive-really-fast-for-a-really-short-time kind.

I have to confess that I’m a relatively recent convert to the sport of auto racing. For most of my life, I just had trouble grasping the appear of watching a bunch of cars make repeated left turns.

I’m happy to report that that’s starting to change.

The more you get exposed to the sport close up — both stock car racing and drag racing — the more you understand its appeal.

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to experience the “need for speed” firsthand when I did a story on Hillenburg’s race driving school: Walking the track, learning up-close-and-personal what’s involved in driving, and then suiting up and hitting the track myself — first with an instructor, and then all by myself.

And as Hillenburg told me later, “Now you understand why I’ve spent my entire life going in circles!”

Yep, I sure do, Andy.

Of course, Richmond County is blessed to have not just one, but two world-class auto racing facilities: Rockingham Speedway, and Rockingham Dragway just across the street.

It must have been a long, quiet four years for the speedway after its shuttering in 2004, until its purchase and revitalization by Andy Hillenburg beginning in 2007.

But things are slowly starting to return to normal at “The Rock,” with several races scheduled for this year.

Will NASCAR be back? That’s anyone’s guess. Hillenburg and his staff are certainly working overtime to bring back the racing fans who might have been soured by the departure of NASCAR and subsequent shuttering of the historic racetrack.

Their efforts deserve to be rewarded, and hopefully a nice crowd will come out for the May 15 doubleheader.

Across the street, meanwhile, I’ve also had a chance to get a first-hand look at drag racing, getting right near the starting line, smelling the exhaust and hearing the road of the dragsters.

And learning how to best take pictures of the dragsters, which is much more difficult than I thought.

Now you see them — now you don’t!

Miss your shot, and you get to wait until next time, since the cars don’t come back around in a circle.

Both facilities — the dragstrip and the speedway — have a big economic impact on our area. Race teams, as well as fans, come to town, star in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, shop in our stores. I’m amazed by the wide variety of events owner Steve Earwood brings to the dragstrip.

It seems like there’s something going on out there nearly every weekend.

Hopefully, race fans will find their way north of town on U.S. 1 over the next few weeks to support the high-level auto racing both of these guys work hard to bring to town.

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