NASCAR’s return to Rockingham was too unique. Mostly, the D-shaped oval track is known for its tight corners, narrow racing surface coming out of Turn 2, and fan presence. However, Saturday’s North Carolina Education Lottery 250 threw up storylines that nobody expected. Being held for the first time at ‘The Rock’ since 2004, the Xfinity Series race saw twists in the climax, which involved a team’s jackpot finish.
The race in itself was chaotic, enduring 14 caution flags as Xfinity cars randomly spun around at ‘The Rock.’ However, the drivers who were determined got through to the front – including the two cars of Alpha Prime Racing. The way this team scrambled out of dire straits to stun Xfinity Series fans is sure to astound you.
Rocking at Rockingham
Less than two months ago, it was a certain Xfinity Series team’s worst day ever. Alpha Prime Racing failed to qualify for the race at Circuit of the Americas. But the same organization that “dropped the ball” in Austin, Texas, saw its tables turning in a good way in Rockingham. Both cars – the No. 4 of Parker Retzlaff and the No. 44 of Brennan Poole – clinched finishes in the top five. NASCAR Insights’ official X page acknowledged the team’s groundbreaking success. “Alpha Prime Racing placed 2 cars in the Top 5 today (Retzlaff – 3rd, Poole – 5th). This is the first time the team has EVER scored multiple Top 5s in a race.” But the way these two pacemakers paved their way to the front stood out more than the result.
Rockingham Speedway witnessed Jesse Love leading for 77 laps and crossing the start/finish line first. While the Richard Childress Racing driver was at the front, a lot of his rivals were trying hard to topple him. Parker Retzlaff qualified second and finished in second place in stage 1. But then a flat tire in the second stage severely hit his chances of staying up front. Despite this crippling setback, Retzlaff’s expert crew chief Joe Williams used top-notch strategy to cycle him back to the front in the third stage. For Brennal Poole, the story of resurgence was a bit different. The No. 44 qualified 28th, and yet he gained track position, finishing 23rd in Stage 1 and 21st in Stage 2. Then he maximised the fuel strategy and made it to the front row by the third stage.
SEEING DOUBLE AT THE ROCK pic.twitter.com/DqYCFcTGWP
— Alpha Prime Racing (@TeamAlphaPrime) April 19, 2025
Jesse Love‘s race victory was disqualified due to a failed post-race technical inspection. That catapulted Parker Retzlaff to a career-best runner-up position and Brennan Poole to 4th place. The two racers beamed at their newfound success in Rockingham. Retzlaff reflected on the day: “Yeah, I would say it’s probably the best race of my career, just the best overall throughout the whole day of just running up front.” Poole also patted his crew chief on the back: “All day it was just about track position, and Frank [Kerr] nailed it on the strategy. I wasn’t so sure when I pitted back there deep towards the end of the race, but it played out perfectly and we got a couple of key restarts at the end of the race we needed.”
What is more, their team owner was bubbling with enthusiasm. Considering the lowest of lows that Alpha Prime Racing has faced, Rockingham truly was a blessing.
An emotional day of success
Stories of emergence and new success can be emotional. When Tony Stewart clinched his first victory for Stewart-Haas Racing, his crew members were in tears. When Brad Keselowski brought RFK Racing to a standard unseen for years, Jack Roush was ecstatic. Similarly, Alpha Prime Racing team co-owner Tommy Joe Martins was on cloud nine in Rockingham. After his team’s misery in COTA, both drivers made slow steps towards success. Parker Retzlaff did not finish worse than 21st after COTA, clinching his first top-ten finish in Bristol. Then Brennan Poole had only one result poorer than 22nd, and he also qualified for the Dash 4 Cash prize in Bristol. Clearly, Martins’ drivers were on a mission – one which they successfully saw through in Rockingham Speedway.
An emotionally charged Tommy Joe Martins confessed, “I’m in a weird place with it right now, because I’m so excited, I’m so happy for all of those guys. It’s so rare you get to have two teams that have success.” Then he went on to acknowledge his drivers’ superb efforts. “Parker’s confidence is always pretty high. I think he is really hard on himself, but days like this, he lives for this s—, flat out.” He added, “For the No. 44 team, I mean two top-fives in the last couple of races, this is a team that doesn’t have leased motors, doesn’t have everything that the No. 4 car has, right, Just the runs they are having is so much credit to Brennan [Poole] and his whole group.” Martins topped it off with the perfect line: “I’m just lucky to have awesome race car drivers.”
Clearly, Rockingham Speedway uplifted a small team out of its doldrums. Here’s to wishing Alpha Prime Racing more such victories and beyond!
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