Carson Hocevar leaks NASCAR Rockingham return news ahead of the official announcement, catching both NASCAR officials and fans off-guard. The 0.94-mile Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina, dormant since 2013 for major NASCAR events, saw its fate change after the driver’s high-profile revelation.
Rockingham Speedway had been absent from NASCAR’s schedule for more than a decade when, in 2024, Hocevar became vocal about wishing for the series‘ comeback to the storied track. His words on a live stream quickly became a focal point among enthusiasts. As Hocevar pronounced,
“Have I heard anything about next year’s schedule? Rockingham’s coming back. Really cool,”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver. This spontaneous statement on the stream drew significant attention online, stirring excitement but also prompting concerns within NASCAR’s leadership.
NASCAR confronts Hocevar after unplanned disclosure
Shortly after the incident, Hocevar admitted his accidental leak of the confidential return. Reflecting on the situation, he said,
“I leaked Rockingham. Like, full-blown leaked it. But, I didn’t know it. I had no idea,”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver. Hocevar described how the aftermath escalated, revealing that upon arriving at his team’s shop, NASCAR reached out in alarm, questioning his knowledge and motives. He maintained,
“I had no idea. I just pulled this out of thin air. There wasn’t a rumor, there wasn’t anything,”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver.
In his recount, Hocevar also named parties involved in reviving the venue, clearly stating,
“You wanna know the people bringing Rockingham back? Track Enterprises. Wanna know who owns track enterprises? Spire Motorsports!”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver. Currently, Hocevar races for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series, further linking himself to the organizations at the heart of the event’s return. Acknowledging his predicament, he conceded,
“So, I lost some plausible deniability,”
—Carson Hocevar, Driver.
Ownership details and future of Rockingham Speedway
While Hocevar credited Spire Motorsports with indirect involvement via Track Enterprises, the actual property rights for Rockingham Speedway are held by Rockingham Properties LLC, under Dan Lovenheim’s ownership. Track Enterprises, as clarified, operates under a rental agreement to help facilitate the NASCAR race’s restoration at the site. This arrangement allowed the Xfinity Series and Truck Series to schedule their 2025 comeback events at the once-dormant North Carolina facility.
Despite the positive buzz surrounding its return to high-profile racing, the track’s long-term future remains uncertain, as Rockingham Speedway has been listed for sale once more. The involvement of key figures like Dan Lovenheim and partnerships with organizations such as NASCAR, Track Enterprises, and Spire Motorsports continue to shape the next chapter for the storied venue.
The rapid leak and the subsequent official confirmation have reignited public interest in Rockingham, illustrating the strain and complexity that can accompany pivotal announcements in motorsport. With racing poised to return in 2025, much attention will be paid to ongoing negotiations, track ownership scenarios, and the excitement generated by Hocevar’s headline-making moment.
