Hillenburg Buys The Rock

kat2220

kat2220

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Hillenburg buys Rockingham track for $4.4M
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - Former NASCAR driver Andy Hillenburg was the successful bidder Tuesday in an auction for North Carolina Speedway, formerly a NASCAR series mainstay.

Hillenburg's high bid was $4 million, and the total price for the purchase will be $4.4 million, including a premium.

Hillenburg, who said he has two minority partners in the purchase, hopes to return some form of stock-car racing to the facility within a year.

The auction attracted about 100 people, but there were few bidders.
 
For what it's worth, I think that this track will attract more attention for racing than the North Wilkesboro track. But, the sale of that track is said to be well under way.
 
buckaroo said:
For what it's worth, I think that this track will attract more attention for racing than the North Wilkesboro track. But, the sale of that track is said to be well under way.
Click to expand...

This will at least save Rockingham.

Maybe IndyCar Series will race there someday.
 
Hillenburg would like to get ARCA and NASCAR Grand National racing, and maybe Craftsman Truck Series racing. It also could be a good place for Cup testing sessions.
 
$50,000 per 6 hour day session per car pair + $75,000 per 6 hour night session per car pair + $150 per person per 10 lap ridealong + $300 per person driving experience + $25,000 per 3 hour club day session (slalom ect for street car clubs) = $$$

so lets say rousch comes in with 10 cars for both a day and night session. That's $250,000 plus $375,000. That's $625,000 already. Run 2 ridealongs of 50 people each is $15,000. 25 people for an experience is $7500.

Take about 8 years to pay off at that rate but hey those are estimates..i bet fees are MUCH higher!
 
But if the Rock sells for $4M how is NWilkes worth $12M? NW is going to take a lot more money and work to bring it back than the Rock.
 
Rockingham was a single owner track before the auction.

North Wilkesboro is a two owner track.

The Rockingham sale was set to be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of price. Something Smith had total control over from start to finish.

North Wilkesboro must have two owners agree, and they are rumored to be at odds. One would think in the overall scheme of things, two successful and intelligent businessmen like Bahre and Smith would be able to get this sale consumated rather than hanging in the wind.

Although stranger things have happened. ;)
 
If Bahre is looking to sell NHIS, you'd think he'd let go of North Wilkesboro.

Glad to see Rockingham belong to someone else. Great little track. One of the few tracks that separated the men from the boys.
 
Great news! I love the Rock. Even if they only have ARCA and Pro Cup races, it is still racing at the Rock.
 
The Rock was always my favorite place to see a race...I loved that place...4 tires, PLEASE !!!
 
I have been to the Rock 3 times. The first time the race sucked and Rusty Wallace won. The 2nd time Kyle Petty almost lapped the field. I think he liked 1 car doing it. Of course that was OK by me being a Petty fan. The 3rd time I think Mark Martin won. All I remember was I about froze all day. We had to use the hot pocket things in our tabogans we bought. My point is I have never been to a great race there or do I remember watching one there. Now Wilkesboro on the other hand, was TRUE SHORT TRACK RACING.
 
I loved ...

tkj24 said:
I have been to the Rock 3 times. The first time the race sucked and Rusty Wallace won. The 2nd time Kyle Petty almost lapped the field. I think he liked 1 car doing it. Of course that was OK by me being a Petty fan. The 3rd time I think Mark Martin won. All I remember was I about froze all day. We had to use the hot pocket things in our tabogans we bought. My point is I have never been to a great race there or do I remember watching one there. Now Wilkesboro on the other hand, was TRUE SHORT TRACK RACING.
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... Rockingham!

North Wilkesboro was boring as hell. I think one year, Geoff Bodine lapped the field 4 times over.

I always walked away from the races when they were on ESPN from Wilkesboro and went outside (Florida was beautiful :)). Was awful there in several races.
 
kat2220 said:
Hillenburg buys Rockingham track for $4.4M
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. - Former NASCAR driver Andy Hillenburg was the successful bidder Tuesday in an auction for North Carolina Speedway, formerly a NASCAR series mainstay.

Hillenburg's high bid was $4 million, and the total price for the purchase will be $4.4 million, including a premium.

Hillenburg, who said he has two minority partners in the purchase, hopes to return some form of stock-car racing to the facility within a year.

The auction attracted about 100 people, but there were few bidders.
Click to expand...

I'm just glad the track went back to a NASCAR person & didn't get scrapped now if we can just get someone to save Wilkesboro we'll be in there. I agree about everything, NASCAR can run Busch & truck races there & at Wilkesboro. They could also run some of those Bandolero & Go-Kart races & also do the drive & ridealong as well. Rockingham was doing that anyways before it closed it had a Petty experience there, the same one that's out in Vegas now is the one that was formerly at Rockingham. I can't even believe they were gonna scrap these places. I would work for free to restore these two tracks back to operation status. Sooo much history. Think, the place where Dale Sr won his 7th title. All the great Petty wins at the Rock, that huge payday for Kyle back in 1990. How about Brett Bodine, he oughta put in on Wilkesboro seeing as how it's the site of his only Cup win back in 1990 in Kenny Bernsteins Quaker State Buick Regal. Quaker State must've shown that "One Tough MotorOil" commercial a million times after that. How about Dale Sr ending Harry Gants 1991 wins streak there when he passed him with like 8 laps left at the Holly Farms, what about Ernie's comeback in 95. Seems like NASCAR wants to ditch all the east coast tracks save for Bristol & Daytona because of their new expansion proposal. Why don't they get rid of Loudon. I hate the way things are today. If I worked directly for NASCAR & Brian France I would voice my opinions on a daily basis even if it got me fired. You just can't man, you can't. It's gotta be saved...
 
I don't want any of the tracks scrapped. I would like to see themgo to a rotateing schedule. One year race at the Rock, the next race Vegas, but that is a dream. Will never happen.
 
Whizzer said:
Rockingham was a single owner track before the auction.

North Wilkesboro is a two owner track.

The Rockingham sale was set to be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of price. Something Smith had total control over from start to finish.

North Wilkesboro must have two owners agree, and they are rumored to be at odds. One would think in the overall scheme of things, two successful and intelligent businessmen like Bahre and Smith would be able to get this sale consumated rather than hanging in the wind.

Although stranger things have happened. ;)
Click to expand...

But, having just sold your house I know you realize that because you want a certain price doesn't mean there's a buyer willing to pay that. I'm just saying that if you look at the 2 tracks with Rockingham selling for $4M and it needing much less repair work that is going to work negatively against NW getting $12M. I don't see how potential buyers will see that value.

Oh, and racerx11, I agree, don't hold your breath for them to rotate between the Rock and Vegas. The difference in seating capacity alone makes it a non-starter. With the Rock seating capacity at 130,000 there may be other tracks it could rotate with but I still don't see it happening.
 
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