Fans Respond To "Send A Soldier To The Rock"

Rockingham Speedway President Andy Hillenburg said today that the track’s “Send A Soldier To The Rock” promotion has resonated with race fans in a way he never could have imagined.

Last week, Hillenburg announced that fans would be able purchase $20 general admission tickets to Sunday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series “Good Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 presented by Cheerwine" at Rockingham Speedway, for distribution to soldiers at nearby Fort Bragg, N.C. Since then, the program has truly taken wing, with NASCAR fans responding in unprecedented numbers to support the men and women of the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Operations Command.

“It has absolutely exceeded my wildest expectations,” said Hillenburg today. “So many people have called our ticket office and said `add a ticket to my order for the troops.’ Even fans who can’t attend Sunday’s race in person have bought tickets and donated them to the cause; as many as eight or 10 tickets at a time.



Hillenburg: Response "overwhelming."

“We won’t have the final numbers until next week, but I’m certain we have already distributed nearly 2,000 tickets,” said Hillenburg. “The response has been so overwhelming that we’ve been able to send tickets to the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, as well.”

The legendary North Carolina oval will host its first NASCAR-sanctioned event since February of 2004, featuring the headline NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, UARA-Stars Late Models and Frank Kimmel Street Stock Series. Saturday’s schedule features practice and qualifying for the Camping World Trucks and Twin 75-lap main events for the UARA-Stars Late Models and Frank Kimmel Street Stocks. After the final checkered flag falls, Little Texas and the Chris Lane Band will take to the stage for a concert that is free to all race ticket holders.

Sunday’s "Good Sam Roadside Assistance Carolina 200 presented by Cheerwine” takes the green flag at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 15, preceded by pre-race ceremonies and a special driver autograph session. Fans interested in contributing to the “Send A Solider To The Rock” program are encouraged to call the Rockingham Speedway ticket office at (910) 205-.8800, or visit online at www.rockinghamspeedway.com.

“I’ve always known that NASCAR fans were among the most patriotic fans in sports,” said Hillenburg. “But the outpouring of support we’ve seen in the last few days has driven that point home, once and for all.”