New Hope for ‘The Rock’?
By DAVID POOLE - The Charlotte Observer
Rockingham Mayor Gene McLaurin said he Tuesday he planned to send a letter to Speedway Motorsports Inc. endorsing Andy Hillenburg's hopes of purchasing N.C. Motor Speedway and bringing racing back.
"Andy has a passion for racing that I admire and appreciate," McLaurin said of Hillenburg, a longtime driver who also runs a driving school.
"His vision for the future of NCMS is exciting.
"We think Rockingham has a place and we think this is the best opportunity to sustain `The Rock' long term."
Hillenburg said he has made no formal proposal to owner Bruton Smith, but has talked about his ideas with some other SMI officials.
"I want to get racing back in there," he said of Rockingham, which lost its final Nextel Cup date after the 2003 season.
"We're trying to make something happen."
Hillenburg said he would make Rockingham the home base of his driving school and rent the track for tests and other uses. He'd also like to see racing there - perhaps a major race in the Automobile Racing Club of America series as well as other stock-car series.
SMI spokesman Jerry Gappens said until Hillenburg makes a formal proposal there's no way to tell if a deal might happen. SMI plans to sell the facility at an auction Oct. 2.
By DAVID POOLE - The Charlotte Observer
Rockingham Mayor Gene McLaurin said he Tuesday he planned to send a letter to Speedway Motorsports Inc. endorsing Andy Hillenburg's hopes of purchasing N.C. Motor Speedway and bringing racing back.
"Andy has a passion for racing that I admire and appreciate," McLaurin said of Hillenburg, a longtime driver who also runs a driving school.
"His vision for the future of NCMS is exciting.
"We think Rockingham has a place and we think this is the best opportunity to sustain `The Rock' long term."
Hillenburg said he has made no formal proposal to owner Bruton Smith, but has talked about his ideas with some other SMI officials.
"I want to get racing back in there," he said of Rockingham, which lost its final Nextel Cup date after the 2003 season.
"We're trying to make something happen."
Hillenburg said he would make Rockingham the home base of his driving school and rent the track for tests and other uses. He'd also like to see racing there - perhaps a major race in the Automobile Racing Club of America series as well as other stock-car series.
SMI spokesman Jerry Gappens said until Hillenburg makes a formal proposal there's no way to tell if a deal might happen. SMI plans to sell the facility at an auction Oct. 2.