Report: Rockingham likely off 2027 NASCAR schedule

A general view of the cars during a NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff race. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Report: Rockingham likely off 2027 NASCAR schedule, North Wilkesboro likely won't have points race

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Jul 30, 2026 12:19 PM ET

Two racetracks that NASCAR has resurrected in recent years will have very different fates next year, according to a report from Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic.

North Wilkesboro Speedway, which sat largely dormant from 1996-2022, was brought back by NASCAR in 2023 as the site of the NASCAR All-Star Race. After hosting an exhibition race for three years, it hosted its first points race since 1996 on July 19.

Bianchi reported Thursday that North Wilkesboro is the leading candidate to host the 2027 All-Star Race. That's because Dover Motor Speedway, which hosted the exhibition event this year, will get its points race back in 2027, leaving Speedway Motorsports to move another one of its venues into the All-Star Race date.

Bianchi also reported that Rockingham Speedway, which was brought back in 2025 to host NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series races on Easter weekend, likely won't be on the 2027 NASCAR schedule.

Which tracks are likely moving into the Chase next year and which are moving out? Where will the All-Star Race go? What about San Diego and Chicago? And what is Rockingham's future?https://t.co/neDPWyjSTK
— Jordan Bianchi (@Jordan_Bianchi) July 30, 2026

What Rockingham's shaky future looks like

"Ownership instability, the same issue that has plagued Rockingham for so many years, is once again casting serious doubt on its future," Bianchi wrote. "Its current owner, Darryl Cuttell, is facing a financial crunch has caused him to close down several other racetracks. This uncertainty has made it untenable for NASCAR to go back."

NASCAR not returning to Rockingham would be an unfortunate outcome given the fan support the North Carolina track has received since its return last year.

North Wilkesboro, on the other hand, appears to be going backward. The first points race at the track in 30 years was a classic, grueling 450-lap showdown that attracted a sellout crowd. The NASCAR All-Star Race is far from the spectacle it once was, and it's possible that there could be a few empty seats at North Wilkesboro next year if the Wilkes County faithful are disappointed that their home track no longer hosts a Cup Series points race.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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