ROCKINGHAM — The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is looking into whether Richmond County commissioners used grant money to pay an overdue bill owed by Rockingham Speedway to a vendor. The case has been assigned to the SBI’s financial crimes unit.
Last month, commissioners voted 4-3 to approve a $375,000 payment to a SAFER barrier company that was preparing to place a lien on the track. Supporters of the decision said the payment was needed to keep NASCAR races scheduled for Rockingham in 2026. Commissioners Jamie Gathings, Jason Gainey and Justin Dawkins voted against it.
Hamlet City Manager John Terziu has questioned the decision, saying county leaders are prioritizing the speedway over essential public services. He pointed out that the county contributes about $300,000 each year to Hamlet’s Fire and EMS Department, which costs more than $1.4 million to operate. Between December 2023 and December 2024, the department handled 666 calls, and half of those were outside city limits.
Terziu asked for a full investigation into the funding and what he says are retaliatory actions against the city for advocating for public safety. In an email shared with local media, he raised concerns about possible violations of open meetings laws, constitutional rights, conflict-of-interest and ethics rules, and misuse of public funds.
“I respectfully request a formal investigation into the legality and ethical propriety of this allocation and related conduct,” Terziu wrote. “The people of Richmond County deserve a government that operates openly, lawfully, and in the public interest, not one that threatens municipalities and prioritizes private gain over public safety.”
He also said county officials broke state law when they approved the $375,000 payment, which came two days after NASCAR announced Rockingham’s return to the O’Reilly Auto Parts and Craftsman Truck series schedules in 2026.
County attorney Michael Newman resigned effective Sept. 5.