As NASCAR prepares for its much anticipated return to Rockingham Speedway in 2025, one of the sport’s most beloved figures has offered a startlingly honest assessment of his history with the track.
Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR Hall of Famer and fan favorite, recently shared his complicated relationship with “The Rock” on his podcast, “Dale Jr. Download,” giving fans a unique perspective on the storied venue that’s making a comeback after years of absence from the NASCAR schedule.
Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Tough Times at “The Rock”
“I hated that place until the very last race,” Earnhardt Jr. confessed on his podcast reflecting on his struggles at the challenging one mile oval. His history at Rockingham tells a story of persistent frustration starting with his Xfinity Series debut in 1997.
In that race, driving the Wrangler car, he recalls, “My track bar was dropping on the right side as we ran the race. I ended up running 14th or something and struggled, but not too bad.”
Despite competing in five Xfinity Series races at Rockingham, Junior never managed to crack the top 10 and his early Cup Series experiences brought similar disappointment. The track’s notoriously abrasive and worn-out surface was famous for wearing down tires and punishing even minor mistakes.
“It just made me have a hard time appreciating the track because of how brutal it could be,” Earnhardt Jr. said, explaining why he struggled there for so long.
Learning On The Job
The funny thing is Earnhardt Jr. finally figured out Rockingham in his last race there in 2004, finishing fifth. Just when he was starting to enjoy it, NASCAR pulled the plug. “I just had a lot of rough days there and then the last race I ran fifth. I had a good car and I felt like I’d figured it out. I was like, ‘Man, that was pretty fun.’ Then we quit going.”
Now that Rockingham is coming back after a $9 million renovation, you might think Earnhardt Jr. would be excited. But he’s not thrilled about the new pavement. Reports say he is not a fan of the new asphalt that the track has been repaved with. He believes that it is the tracks with the old asphalt that have a lot of character.
Despite these reservations, Junior has taken notice of the speeds at the renovated facility. When young driver Rajah Caruth recently posted onboard footage from Rockingham, Earnhardt remarked that “Rockingham is fast as lightning!”
As the Xfinity Series and Truck Series get ready to race at Rockingham in 2025, Earnhardt Jr.’s honest take serves as both a warning and a history lesson for the young drivers about to face one of NASCAR’s toughest challenges.