Neel Madhavan | Daily Journal file photo
                                 The Rockingham Speedway was targeted for some federal COVID relief money in Governor Roy Cooper’s budget proposal released this week.

Neel Madhavan | Daily Journal file photo

The Rockingham Speedway was targeted for some federal COVID relief money in Governor Roy Cooper’s budget proposal released this week.

ROCKINGHAM — Governor Roy Cooper has proposed to send $10 million of American Rescue Plan funds to The Rock Speedway & Entertainment Complex as part of his effort to support the motorsports industry which has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plan would allocate a total of $45 million to motorsports in the state, $30 million of which will be divided between The Rock, North Wilkesboro Speedway and the Charlotte Motor Speedway, another $10 million will go to motorsports and outdoor event opportunity grants, and $5 million for natural and cultural tourism trails. It remains to be seen whether the proposal will be approved by the state legislature.

“If it’s approved we would be blessed and appreciative for any and all that are dedicated our efforts toward bringing The Rock back to its former glory,” said Justin Jones, vice president of operations for The Rock.

Jones added that the money would likely go towards repaving the track. A couple of years ago, Cooper proposed allocating $8 million for the track to support a pedestrian bridge over U.S. 1 to allow a safe path for foot traffic between The Rockingham Dragway and The Rock, and to support other improvements including connecting the track to public sewer service, but it never came to fruition. Asked if these new funds would be used to support the bridge idea again, Jones said the list of things they want to improve at the venue are “a mile long.”

”We’re humbled, we’re excited, we’re motivated and if everything goes through for us then it will be a dream come true for us and The Rock,” he said.

As the renovations continue, and there are many, Jones confirmed that Speedway staff have met with NASCAR representatives in recent weeks to discuss future plans. Nothing is set in stone, but Jones said it’s “on the horizon.”

“It’s something we’re aiming for and we’ll see how realistic that is going forward when we talk with NASCAR,” Jones said.

The money for the Speedway was the idea of Cooper and his staff, not something the Speedway leadership requested, according to Jones. Cooper’s full plan for the $5.7 billion in federal funding the state has received includes efforts to help families impacted by the pandemic, improve infrastructure, and improve access to higher education.

“This pandemic brought us a once-in-a-generation challenge. And these funds have brought us a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Cooper said in a release. “North Carolina’s funding from the American Rescue Plan positions our state for a shared recovery and allows us to create a North Carolina that works for all.”

In Cooper’s statement of need for the Speedway funds, he says that North Carolina is “the birthplace of motorsports,” having hosted the first NASCAR Cup Series race at the Charlotte fairgrounds in 1949, and that the state is home to NASCAR’s headquarters, Hall of Fame, and 90% of race teams are based in North Carolina, according to the Governor.

Gene McLaurin, chair of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina’s Board of Directors, said that racing is “part of our identity in North Carolina and in Richmond County.”

“This [proposal] just shows [Cooper’s] commitment to not just motorsports but to rural North Carolina and particularly to Richmond County with this type of assistance,” McLaurin said. “We’ll see what happens but it’s a very positive thing for our community that we’re staying on his radar.”

McLaurin said that he has continued to promote motorsports in Richmond County in talks with the Governor and his staff. His history as mayor of Rockingham when NASCAR was holding events in the county, when they left, and when they returned, has helped him build relationships needed to make things happen.

He added that the Rockingham Dragway is also “due” for some improvement projects because of the continued benefit they provide to the county and motorsports fans in the region.

“I’ve had a long history of promoting our Speedway for all kinds of activities and I just think this has got the potential to bring some top tier racing back to Richmond County — now is that NASCAR? I don’t want to say that, but top tier racing not just at the oval track but bringing more events to the Rockingham Dragway,” McLaurin said.

McLaurin declined to comment on any future plans to bring NASCAR back to the county, but said “there’s a lot of interest” in the Speedway, and the Dragway.

“It’s a very positive thing for our whole area of North Carolina,” McLaurin said.

To support the Richmond County Daily Journal, subscribe at https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/subscribe.

Reach Gavin Stone at 910-817-2673 or [email protected].