A historic track that hosted NASCAR Cup Series races is set to host a grassroots series for the very first time in 2026. Hickory Motor Speedway will return.
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According to a press release, the 0.363-mile oval will host the ARCA Menards Series East for the very first time on March 28, 2026. This race will mark the season opener for the series, and it will showcase young drivers who want to rise through the racing ranks.
"Considering the tradition, history and longevity of Hickory Motor Speedway and ARCA, it's especially meaningful to welcome Hickory Motor Speedway to the ARCA Menards Series East schedule in 2026," said ARCA president Ron Drager in a press release. "Hickory's first race was in 1951 and ARCA's was in 1953. Bringing the two together after all that time makes this race extremely significant.
"Hickory Motor Speedway's legacy is unparalleled and the number of drivers who have had success there and have gone on to success in the NASCAR national series numbers in the dozens. We look forward to seeing which East Series driver adds their name to the list of winners at Hickory."
The short track, which sits about 33 miles to the northwest of Charlotte, first hosted Cup Series races in 1953. Tim Flock won the inaugural event while Fonty Flock won the second.
The historic track continued hosting Cup Series races through the 1971 season. A laundry list of iconic names won there, which included Junior Johnson, Ned Jarrett, David Pearson, Richard Petty, Bobby Isaac, and Tiny Lund.
Hickory Motor Speedway then hosted O'Reilly Auto Parts Series races in the 1980s and 1990s. These races featured such winners as Tommy Houston, Johnny Benson Jr., Dick Trickle, Sam Ard, Jack Ingram, and Morgan Shepherd among many others.
Hickory Motor Speedway will not be the only historic track on the ARCA Menards Series East schedule. One weekend after the first-ever ARCA East race at the 0.363-mile oval, the series will head to Rockingham Speedway. It will be the support race for a weekend also featuring the Craftsman Truck Series and O'Reilly Auto Parts Series.
