ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — NASCAR’s Xfinity and Craftsman Truck Series will mark a historic return to Rockingham Speedway this weekend, April 18-19, 2025, while the Cup Series prepares for the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 27. The races at Rockingham, the Black’s Tire 200 and North Carolina Education Lottery 250, signal the track’s first NASCAR national series events since 2013, drawing massive fan interest with sold-out grandstands for Saturday’s Xfinity race. Talladega’s high-stakes superspeedway action, known for unpredictable finishes, promises to keep the momentum going.
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Black’s Tire 200
The Craftsman Truck Series kicks off Rockingham’s weekend with the Black’s Tire 200 on Friday, April 18, at 5 p.m. ET on FS1. The 0.94-mile asphalt oval, recently remeasured by NASCAR, hosts a 188-mile race over 200 laps, with stages ending on laps 45, 90, and 200. The purse is $782,900. This marks the third Truck Series race at Rockingham, following Kasey Kahne’s 2012 win and Kyle Larson’s 2013 victory. Only four drivers on the 35-entry list have prior Truck starts at the track: Matt Crafton, Norm Benning, Grant Enfinger, and Parker Kligerman.
The race concludes the 2025 Triple Truck Challenge, with Daniel Hemric and Chandler Smith eligible for a $150,000 bonus after wins at Martinsville and Bristol, respectively. No driver can claim the $500,000 three-race bonus. “We are really making sure that we’re doing our part to develop our drivers for the Xfinity Series and eventually the Cup Series,” said Jusan Hamilton, NASCAR managing director of competition operations, highlighting the series’ role in driver development.
Corey Heim leads with two 2025 wins, while Chandler Smith’s top-10 streak in all six races underscores his consistency.
NASCAR Xfinity Series: North Carolina Education Lottery 250
On Saturday, April 19, at 4 p.m. ET on The CW, the Xfinity Series races the North Carolina Education Lottery 250, a 235-mile, 250-lap event with a $1,651,939 purse. Stages end on laps 60, 120, and 250. The 43rd Xfinity race at Rockingham, and the first since Jamie McMurray’s 2004 win, features a 40-car entry list, with two teams failing to qualify. Notable entries include Kasey Kahne, returning to Xfinity for the first time since 2017 in the No. 33 for Richard Childress Racing, and Katherine Legge in the No. 32 for Jordan Anderson Racing.
The race is the final 2025 Dash 4 Cash event, offering a $100,000 bonus to the top finisher among Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, and Brandon Jones. Allgaier, with seven career Dash 4 Cash wins, took Miami and Bristol, while Austin Hill won at Martinsville. Allgaier dominates 2025 stats, leading with an 83-point standings advantage, seven top-10 finishes, and 334 laps led among series regulars. “Excitement continues to build,” said Track Enterprises President Bob Sargent, noting the sold-out grandstands as a testament to fan enthusiasm for NASCAR’s return to “The Rock”.
NASCAR Cup Series: Jack Link’s 500
The Cup Series takes a break for Easter but returns with the Jack Link’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 27, at 3 p.m. ET on FOX. The 500-mile, 188-lap race on the 2.66-mile oval carries an $11,055,250 purse, with stages ending on laps 60, 120, and 188. The 112th Cup race at Talladega has a history of unpredictability, with nine different winners in the last nine races. Brad Keselowski leads active drivers with six wins, while Joey Logano tops laps led with 509. Michael McDowell swept both 2024 poles, and 15 of 111 races (13.5%) have been won from the pole, most recently by Denny Hamlin in 2020.
William Byron leads the 2025 points standings by 30 over Hamlin, with Kyle Larson’s Bristol dominance—leading 411 laps and sweeping stages—tying him with Martin Truex Jr. for 66 career stage wins. Larson, however, has yet to win a stage at Talladega. Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports have won eight of nine 2025 races, setting up a fierce battle at the superspeedway, where first-time Cup winners like Keselowski (2009) and Bubba Wallace (2021) have emerged.
Rockingham’s Return and Fan Engagement
Rockingham’s revival, led by investor Dan Lovenheim since 2018, includes a 2022 repaving and a $9 million state investment.The 0.94-mile D-shaped oval, nicknamed “The Rock,” last hosted NASCAR in 2013. Fans are buzzing, with posts on X noting ideal weather in the high 70s for the weekend, potentially enhancing racing conditions compared to a colder test session in January. NASCAR legends Ken Schrader and Kenny Wallace will host a Q&A at ThunderFest on April 17 and the Fan Zone on April 18, boosting excitement.
Where to Watch
- Friday, April 18: Truck Series practice/qualifying (FS2, 12:30 p.m. ET), Xfinity practice (The CW App, 3 p.m. ET), Black’s Tire 200 (FS1, 5 p.m. ET).
- Saturday, April 19: Xfinity qualifying (The CW App, 11:30 a.m. ET), North Carolina Education Lottery 250 (The CW, 4 p.m. ET).
- Sunday, April 27: Jack Link’s 500 (FOX, 2 p.m. ET).
Tickets for Rockingham are available at racetherock.com, with Saturday’s grandstands sold out. Talladega tickets start at $36, per nascartickets.us. Fans can follow live on MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90, or streaming platforms like the FOX Sports App.
