This weekend, the NASCAR Xfinity Series makes their first visit to Rockingham Speedway since 2004. Coverage of the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 will start with NASCAR Countdown Live on The CW at 3 p.m. ET. Race coverage will begin at 4 p.m. ET with the green flag around 4:10 p.m. ET. Radio coverage will be provided by local MRN Radio affiliates and
SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).
Records and facts
Only one driver in the field this weekend has ever raced in what is now the Xfinity Series at Rockingham. That is Kasey Kahne, who is making his return to NASCAR for Richard Childress Racing. He has five career starts in the series there with a best
finish of 16th in 2002. He also came within a whisker of winning the final Cup race at Rockingham in 2004, being beaten by Matt Kenseth by just one-hundredth of a second.
All-time, Mark Martin is the winningest driver at Martinsville with 11 career victories in 25 starts. Dale Earnhardt and Jamie McMurray had four wins each. In McMurray's case, he won the last four Rockingham events. Todd
Bodine, Harry Gant and Morgan Shepherd had two wins each.
Track Facts
Track / Race Length: 0.94-mile D-shaped oval, 250 laps (235 miles)
Banking: 22 degrees in turns 1-2, 25 degrees in turns 3-4
Frontstretch: 1300 ft., banked 8 degrees
Backstretch: 1367 ft., banked 8 degrees
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/Rockingham1965
Pre-Race Schedule:
Practice: Friday, April 18, 3:05 - 3:55 p.m. ET on The CW App
Qualifying: Saturday, April 19 at Noon ET on The CW App
Say What!
"Rockingham is tough, but I am looking forward to
the opportunity to get out there and run laps this weekend. We had speed at the test, so I know this No. 1 team is going to unload a fast Chevrolet on Friday. We have had really great momentum these past two weeks, so hopefully at the end we can not only contend for the win, but also the $100,000. It would mean a lot to finally get that finish we’ve been chasing for Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops and Clarience Technologies and this entire No. 1 team." - Carson
Kvapil
"I’m really excited to get back behind the wheel at a place like Rockingham. It’s such a historic track with a lot of character, and it’s cool to be part of the Xfinity Series bringing racing back there.
"With the repave at Rockingham,
we’re still learning a lot about how the track’s going to race. Typically, it’s been a place where tire wear is huge, but now it might be more about raw speed and track position. I think execution on restarts and staying ahead of the track as it changes through the run will be key to having a good day." - Harrison Burton
"The last time the Xfinity
Series raced at Rockingham, I had barely been born! It’s exciting to get to go back to such a historic track in NASCAR. We tested there earlier this year, and I was able to get comfortable in the car. One challenge this week will be the difference in temperature compared to when we tested in the winter, but I’m looking forward to it." - Daniel Dye
Phil Allaway is the
Newsletter Manager for Frontstretch. He can be reached via e-mail at phil.allaway@frontstretch.com. Photo is courtesy of NASCAR Media via Sheryl Creekmore of NASCAR.
