“I was a little disappointed because we had such good luck there… like right now if they took Martinsville away, I would feel bad about it because we’ve had so much success at those tracks that it really hurt.” These are Richard Petty’s words on his emotions after Rockingham was removed from the NASCAR schedule in 2004. The 1.017-mile oval was a hybrid creature, combining the wild speed of a superspeedway with the tight, hard-nosed requirements of a short track. From 1965, it was home to NASCAR‘s Cup Series, testing drivers with its rough surface that wore down tires and required accuracy.
The King dominated here, with 11 victories—more than any other driver—his No. 43 car a blur of dominance. But by 2004, NASCAR‘s move to larger markets and financial woes left The Rock deserted, its grandstands vacant, and its legacy in decline. In 2025, “The Rock“ comes roaring back to life, welcoming NASCAR‘s Xfinity and Truck Series after all these years of quiet. For the fans, it‘s a throwback reunion, an opportunity to relive the glory days. But for Kyle and Richard Petty, it‘s a very personal experience, a return to memories of victory and family.
Richard Petty recalls the trips back and forth to Rockingham
Now, with new owners and a $15 million renovation, Rockingham is reborn, stirring emotions for those who know its story. Rockingham Speedway, nestled in the pines of North Carolina, is more than a racetrack—it’s a living piece of NASCAR history, a place where legends were forged. For the Petty family, Rockingham is a scrapbook of their lives. Richard, the sport’s greatest champion, and his son Kyle, a former driver with three Rockingham triumphs himself, spent countless days here, racing, learning, and passing down lessons.
Richard Petty remembers Rockingham’s quirks vividly: “It’s a combination of a superspeedway and a short track. You had a long front stretch and a shorter back stretch. What we would do, we would gear for the back stretch. You had new tires, and the race first started, and you didn’t run wide open down the front street.” The track’s long front stretch and shorter back stretch required clever gearing and strategy, making it a driver’s track, one that rewarded skill over brute power. Then there’s the memory of Adam, lost in the maze of country roads leading to The Rock.
“One of the craziest things that happened was going to Rockingham,” said Richard Petty. “You couldn’t get to Rockingham. You had to go back through the country and all this stuff.” Kyle Petty echoed this sentiment, remembering the first time his son, Adam Petty, went down there for a race.”The first time that Adam [Petty] went down there to run, he said, ‘I’m going to Rockingham, how do you go?’ And I said, ‘I don’t have a clue. I can show you, but there’s no way on God’s green earth I can tell you how to get there.’ I ended up having to take him down there and show him, like ‘write this down so you know how to go home.”
For the Pettys, Rockingham was like a second home. Located just 70 miles from Level Cross, where they lived, Rockingham race weekends meant a drive down to the racetrack from home. No hotels. So if Adam had to make it there, he needed to know the way back home, too! “We drove back and forth,” added Kyle Petty. Adam Petty ran his second-ever Xfinity race at Rockingham Speedway in 1998. The fourth-generation driver then made his full-time Xfinity debut the following season, but 2000 would mark his last season in racing, in what was a tragic ending to a promising career.
At just 19 years of age, Adam was killed in a 2000 practice crash at New Hampshire Speedway, just as he was beginning to carve his own path in NASCAR. His connection to Rockingham, with it being in the state where he grew up, made the track’s return a poignant moment for the Pettys. Kyle’s voice still softens when he talks about training Adam. “I’d lock him in the trailer and change the spring. OK, what did I change? Go run it and tell me what I changed. Can you adjust as a driver, or do we need to work on the car? You tell me what you want to do.” Kyle told Kevin Harvick earlier this year.
Adam’s spirit lingers all over NASCAR. Fans still see his No. 45 honored in throwback schemes, like Daniel Dye’s at Darlington, a tribute to the kid who carried the Petty name with pride. Rockingham’s return isn’t just a race for the Pettys—it’s a chance to stand on that weathered asphalt and feel Adam’s presence, to remember the laughter, the lessons, and the dreams that never faded. As The Rock awakens, it carries their story forward, a testament to a family that raced, loved, and endured.
Kyle Petty’s charity ride is a journey of heart and history
Kyle Petty’s 29th Charity Ride Across America kicks off May 3, 2025, and it’s more than a motorcycle run. It’s a heartfelt mission to honor his son, Adam, and support kids at Victory Junction, a camp for children with serious illnesses created by Kyle in memory of Adam’s wishes. This year, 225 riders will roar from Deadwood, South Dakota, to Colorado Springs, covering 2,000 miles in seven days.
Meanwhile, Richard Petty shared his favorite stop, “Going to the Henry Ford Museum. Been there 2-3 times, but it’s one of those places where every time you go, it’s different. So everybody needs to go, at least once,” revealed the King. Historical items such as the car in which John F Kennedy was assassinated and Abraham Lincoln’s chair are what make the museum so special for the Pettys. The ride also pauses at iconic spots like Badlands National Park and Mount Rushmore, blending adventure with purpose.
What’s extra special is that the 1951 Hudson Hornet, dubbed the “Fabulous Hudson Hornet,” will roll along, turning heads. It’s a NASCAR icon, now showcased at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. Seeing it cruising alongside modern bikes, a nod to racing’s roots is a sight to behold. Since 1995, this ride has raised $22 million, changing countless lives. That’s the heart of it. From Sturgis to Colorado Springs, every mile fuels hope. Join the journey, cheer them on, or donate—because this ride is love in motion.
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