ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – The return of auto racing to North Carolina’s Rockingham Speedway will have to wait.
Track and CARS Tour officials announced Wednesday that the planned CARS Tour late model stock car event that was scheduled for Nov. 6 would not take place amid the ongoing Hoosier tire shortage.
The race would have been the first professional motorsports event held at the venue since 2013.
“It is with great disappointment that due to the ongoing Hoosier racing tire shortage, we announce the postponement of the LeithCars.com Race the Rock 125 scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 6,” read a joint statement from series and track officials.
“The effort that has gone into putting this race together by all involved is monumental. From the ownership, management and entire staff of Rockingham Speedway, CARS Tour series management and staff, promoters Charlie Hansen and Mike Stodder, many other volunteers involved and especially the fans, this is a definite kick in the gut.”
Hoosier had agreed to build a new tire specifically for the race at Rockingham Speedway. This decision was made after multiple tire tests at the venue.
“We were hoping to get ahead of the curve for this event, but in the end, Hoosier simply did not have the required staff or materials to make it happen,” the statement read.
The statement went on to say that track and series officials will evaluate the tire situation in the hopes of bringing racing back to the track sometime in 2022.