The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI) has announced its financial crimes unit has launched an investigation of a $375,000 grant given to the track by Richmond County Commissioners on Thursday, Aug. 21 per Gina Esposito of WSOC-TV.
According to WSOC-TV, the racetrack had an unpaid debt for the recently installed SAFER barriers. It was granted the payment by County Commissioners in a 4-3 vote on Aug. 21 shortly after commissioners were told the track needed to pay off the debts to ensure it stayed on the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedules that were announced one day before.
Hamlet City Manager John Terzui reportedly requested the North Carolina attorney general and ethics commission to begin an investigation into the payment.
Terzui has stated the county commissioners violated open meetings laws and failed to “provide proper public notice and agenda” and violated constitutional rights by “not allowing citizens to speak” when gathering to vote on the providing Rockingham the grant.
Rockingham is set to host the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series on April 3-4, respectively in 2026.
Dalton Hopkins began writing for Frontstretch in April 2021. Currently, he is the lead writer for the weekly Thinkin' Out Loud column, co-host of the Frontstretch Happy Hour podcast, and one of our lead reporters. Beforehand, he wrote for IMSA shortly after graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2019. Simultaneously, he also serves as a Captain in the US Army.
Follow Dalton on Twitter @PitLaneCPT