Full Throttle

For the last ten days or so ARCA RE/MAX car owner and former driver Andy Hillenburg has issued a number of statements about the pending sale of Rockingham Tuesday.

He’s said he’s not among the “front runners” of those with an interest in the track, that he fully understands it would take an enormous amount over the purchase price to get the track back to a level to attract a top tier series. Etc… etc.

I’ll give Andy his due, it was a great smokescreen, although part of his pre-auction calculations were based on an anticipated price of $12 million and the speedway went for a paltry $4.4 million after being appraised at $30 million.

The Rock went for a rock bottom price and Andy is now the proud owner.

“We’re hoping to have a positive impact on the folks of Rockingham and Richmond County and make a difference in the sport that has been good to all of us. We have big plans for the track and announcements will follow in the immediate future,” said Hillenburg, two-time ARCA RE/MAX Series champion, and new owner of North Carolina Motor Speedway.

Nice job Andy, The Rock lives, or at least has a new owner looking to keep it from becoming a warehouse or housing tract. I expect one of the first announcements to be the scheduling of an ARCA RE/MAX event no later than the 2009 season.

I don’t expect any NASCAR series aside from the NCTS to ever pass through its gates again.