With the days of 2009 winding down, the calendar will soon turn and immediately it will be race season. Rockingham Speedway will thunder to life at Noon on New Year’s Day with the second annual Polar Bear 150 race for street stocks.
Over 60 entries have been submitted and all the cars will be gridded for the 150-lap event at the historic 1-mile facility.
Entries are from tradition racers in the series – the Frank Kimmel Street Stock Series – and a bunch of “frustrated racers” with NASCAR ties.
Jimmy Elledge is crew chief for Scott Speed on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, but he’ll put on the racers goggles for Rockingham.
“This race is a blast,” said Elledge who competed in the race last year. “I grew up in Cup racing and always thought Rockingham was a very cool racetrack. Just to be able to race on a track with this kind of history is a lot of fun.
“I’ve got a shop at my house and me and my buddies get out there and work on it. I’m fortunate to be able to get some parts and pieces from Red Bull and some other teams and be able to put some stuff together and not have a whole lot of money in it.”
J.D. Frey is a mechanic for Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing; he’s entered in the race. And, also from the Earnhardt-Ganassi camp is Tab Boyd, who spots for Juan Pablo Montoya.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to have the street stocks coming back for the Polar Bear 150,” said speedway president, Andy Hillenburg. “This is such a fun event to host and the race fans really enjoy it. “
Practice begins at 1:00 on Thursday, December 31, lasting until 4:00. The
activities then shift to turn three of the infield where the 2
nd Annual Short Track Hall of Fame Polar Bear New Years Eve Bash @ The Rock will continue into the early hours of 2010.
Race day sees qualifying at 10:00 a.m. and at Noon when MRN Radio’s Dave Moody will wave the green flag kicking off the new race season.
Tickets for the Polar Bear 150 are $15 in advance, $20 the day of the event. Children 12 and under are $5, with those under three admitted free. Indoor public suite seating is also available.