Miss North Carolina, Richmond Senior High School Raider Band Take Center Stage Prior to Green Flag
ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (March 18, 2026) – Pre-race activities leading into the April 3 Black’s Tire 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race will showcase local talent, students and dignitaries as anticipation continues to build ahead of NASCAR’s Easter Weekend Classic at Rockingham Speedway.
Miss North Carolina, Sophia Kellstrom, will visit with fans and sign autographs from noon – 3 p.m. in the speedway’s Fan Zone before making her way inside the track where she’ll greet drivers and wish them good luck during pre-race ceremonies.
Kellstrom, the 87th Miss North Carolina, was crowned June 28, 2025 and proudly represented the Tar Heel State at the 104th Miss America Competition. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a lifelong changemaker, she is the founder of Pennies for Heaven, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating food insecurity. For over 19 years, she has led initiatives on the local, state, national, and international levels-proving that even small acts of kindness can create a lasting impact.
Passionate about inspiring the next generation, Kellstrom created a school curriculum and authored the children’s book “Sophie the Superhero” to empower young minds. Through her work, she encourages every child to embrace the message that “Helping is their superpower.”
Meanwhile, the Richmond (N.C.) Senior High School Marching Band will perform the school’s fight song on the front straightaway of the venerable high-banked oval, and feature over 50 of Richmond County’s most talented high school musicians. A medley of Richmond County elementary school students will also be on hand to honor America by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance both Friday and Saturday. Students were chosen individually from different schools across the county following a collaborative initiative between Track Enterprises, the Richmond County Tourism Development Authority and Richmond County Schools to involve students throughout the weekend.
“It’s very fitting to have Sophia Kellstrom, Miss North Carolina, at the track to interact with all our great fans and participate in the pre-race pageantry,” said Bob Sargent President, Track Enterprises, the official NASCAR event promoter at Rockingham Speedway. “Sophia represents the very best of the state and we certainly appreciate her generosity. The Richmond Raider Marching Band performed flawlessly last year and we’re thrilled to have them back in 2026. We continue to be thankful to Band Director Edwin Carter and, of course, the entire Raider Nation for allowing the Richmond Raider Band to participate this weekend. We’re also thrilled to welcome back students from across Richmond County Elementary Schools as they recite the pledge of Allegiance before the Black’s Tire 200 and Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black’s Tire.”
Fans can log on to racetherock.com for continuing details, schedule updates or to purchase tickets for NASCAR’s Easter Weekend Classic at Rockingham Speedway. Tickets are also available for purchase in person at Rockingham City Hall Monday – Thursday from 8 a.m. – noon and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Both single day and weekend ticket packages are available.
The Black’s Tire 200 from Rockingham Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Friday, April 3 beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The race will broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. The North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black’s Tire will be televised live on the CW Saturday, April 4, beginning at 2:30 p.m. EDT and broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
– racetherock.com –
About Black’s Tire …
Black’s Tire (BTS) was founded as Black’s Service Station by W. Crowell Black in Whiteville, N.C. in 1929 and is celebrating its 97th anniversary in 2026. With more than 75 locations in both North and South Carolina, Black’s remains a local, family owned- and -operated tire sales and service and vehicle repair business. In addition to the retail and commercial locations, Black’s also operates 15 warehouse/distribution centers across, BTS Tire & Wheel Distributors, a commercial sales division, and a tire-retreading business, Carolina Retreads. Today, the Black’s Tire family includes 1,200 team members. To learn more about Black’s Tire or to find a location, visit www.blackstire.com. Follow Black’s Tire on social media: Twitter at @BlacksTire, Instagram at @BlacksTire and Facebook at facebook.com/blackstire
About North Education Lottery …
The N.C. Education Lottery ranks as one of the most successful and responsible lotteries in the U.S., providing more than $1 billion for education in North Carolina for three straight years. The funds help counties build and repair schools, help local school systems with salaries of support staff and student transportation, provide for a free, academic pre-school for at-risk four-year-olds, and support the Next NC Scholarship that awards college scholarships based on financial need and the North Carolina Scholarship for Children of Wartime Veterans. To learn more about the state lottery, visit www.nclottery.com,www.NCPlaySmart.com and follow on social media on Facebook @nclottery: Instagram @nclottery: and X @nclottery
About Rockingham Speedway …
Located in Richmond County, N.C., Rockingham Speedway opened as a flat, one-mile oval on Oct. 31, 1965. It was reconfigured to a one-mile (1.017 miles) high-banked, D-shaped oval in 1969 and currently measures 0.94-miles in length. On Nov. 18, 2021, N.C., Governor Roy Cooper signed the 2021-2022 North Carolina state budget allocating $9 million to support reinvestment in the facility. The state funds, along with additional investments, allowed for redevelopment of the racetrack including the racing surface and extensive repairs.
About Track Enterprises …
Track Enterprises has been promoting motorsports events since 1985. Based in Macon, Ill., a dedicated staff, led by longtime promoter Bob Sargent, organize and promote upwards of 80 races a year across the eastern half of the United States. Track Enterprises was responsible for the highly-acclaimed return of the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series to the Rockingham Speedway in 2025.