NASCAR At Rockingham : Winter Storm Forces O’Reilly and Craftsman Tests To Be Rescheduled To Feb. 6

Mother Nature just won’t cut “The Rock” a break. Therefore, NASCAR fans hoping to hear engines echo through Rockingham Speedway will have to wait a little longer. The historic winter storm sweeping across the Southeast has forced officials to cancel the planned mid‑week test session once again.

Track Enterprises confirmed that the organizational test for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series originally scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, February 3 through 4, has been postponed. The new plan calls for a single, high‑intensity test day on Friday, Feb. 6.

This marks the second weather‑related disruption for the session, which had already been moved from late January to early February. With the storm still affecting Richmond County and surrounding roadways, a mid‑week test became unworkable. Safety for teams, haulers, and fans remains the priority.

A Single‑Day Blitz at Rockingham

With the schedule condensed, teams no longer have the luxury of a two‑day shakedown. Friday will be a full‑throttle effort from start to finish. Cars and trucks from both series will be on track from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., eight hours to gather data, adjust setups, and evaluate tire wear on Rockingham’s notoriously abrasive surface. Every minute of green‑flag time will matter.

Fans willing to brave the cold will still have the chance to watch the action for free. The Turn 4 grandstands will be open to the public at no charge, offering a rare look at teams working in a raw, test‑day environment before the season officially begins.

Preparing for the Easter Weekend Classic

This test carries significant weight. It is the only preseason opportunity for teams to prepare before April’s doubleheader: the North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black’s Tire and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Black’s Tire 200. Rockingham is known for aggressive tire fall‑off and demanding race conditions.

Without this test, teams would enter April with limited data and no baseline for setups.Media access will run from noon to 5 p.m., with driver availability scheduled in the early afternoon inside the infield media center. Friday is shaping up to be a busy, cold, and high‑stakes day in North Carolina.

What This Means for the Teams

Losing a full day of testing creates several challenges for crew chiefs and engineers:

• Reduced Data: Two days of planned testing must now be compressed into eight hours. Any mechanical issue or early incident could wipe out a team’s entire window.
• Track Evolution: Rockingham’s surface requires time to take rubber. In a single day, conditions can change dramatically from morning to late afternoon, complicating setup decisions.
• Logistical Pressure: Haulers and support crews are already navigating icy roads to safely transport equipment to the track, adding another layer of strain.

What’s Next

The road back to racing at Rockingham has been long and now, a bit icy. While the delay is frustrating, the fact that NASCAR machinery is returning to The Rock at all is a milestone. The weather may slow the process.

However, come Friday, that old asphalt will finally come back to life. Bundle up, grab a hot coffee, and expect a full day of activity when engines fire on Friday. As conditions evolve and schedules firm up, we’ll continue tracking developments from Rockingham and provide updates as they come in.