In 2024, Parker Kligerman was all smiles. His long-held dream of seeing NASCAR return to Lime Rock Park was finally coming true. A native of the Northeast and part-owner of the iconic Connecticut track, Kligerman had pushed for years to bring top-tier NASCAR action to Lime Rock. He called the June 2025 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series announcement “fascinating.”

“Four years ago, after I was graciously invited into the ownership group at LRP. I dreamed of seeing a top3 NASCAR race there from the first chats with BenKennedy33 to LRP leadership taking action. It’s been fascinating to see this come together. Congrats CT! We got a big race,” he posted on X. For many, this was more than a race; it was a historic comeback. Lime Rock Park hadn’t seen NASCAR since 2011. But now, thanks to Kligerman’s push and two years of quiet work with NASCAR executives, the venue was back on the map.

“This will be the biggest event in Lime Rock Park’s history,” said CEO Dicky Riegel. NASCAR fans across New England cheered. After a 14-year absence, the series was back, and the scenic 1.53-mile course in the Berkshires was ready for its moment. It seemed like a huge win for everyone until the townspeople had their say. As the date inches closer, excitement is shifting to frustration. Locals aren’t celebrating. They’re organizing. While the track gets ready for its national series return, the town of Salisbury is pushing back, loudly and publicly.

Local protest erupts over NASCAR organizer’s mismanagement

At a special meeting on May 15, the Board of Selectmen in Salisbury made one thing clear: they aren’t on board with NASCAR’s traffic plan. The request to reroute Route 112 into one-way traffic to handle 15,000 fans sparked backlash. As reported by the Lakeville Journal, town residents voiced concerns about congestion, safety, and a lack of transparency. Local officials called it unreasonable. Michael Klemens of the Planning and Zoning Commission warned about “programmatic creep”, the fear that this one event would snowball into many more, slowly transforming their quiet community.

Notably, in the meeting, First Selectman Curtis Rand pushed back on the proposal. “That’s a lot of pressure on me,” he told the Lime Rock Park representatives. He questioned why he had to approve a state highway detour at all and said he would call the state DOT for clarification. Other board members expressed frustration that track officials hadn’t contacted residents. The lack of communication angered the town. The Selectmen will reconvene on May 21, but for now, the traffic plan remains on hold.

Tension between the town and the track has simmered for decades. What’s changed is the scale of the event. Neighbors sued over noise in 1959, leading a court to ban Sunday racing at Lime Rock — making it the only racetrack in America with such a restriction. That rule still stands. Locals have protected their quiet weekends for decades. But what makes this tension even more surprising is how helpful many locals were just months ago. Back in February, track officials pitched a plan to solve the parking crunch by using neighbors’ lawns.

Vice President of Operations Robert Jacopino held a community meeting to explain how residents could turn their properties into private parking lots. It was a simple idea: $20 for cars closer to the track, $10 for farther lots, and all the money would go directly to homeowners. Several locals, like Ryan Cooper, jumped in to help. “It’s a great way to be involved with the race and help out at the same time,” Cooper said. HVRHS even offered their school lot, and students signed up to assist. Track officials promised signs, trash cans, and shuttles.

There was no catch, no permits needed. The effort looked like a win-win. But now, just weeks away from the big event, that community goodwill is turning into frustration and division. Despite the backlash, NASCAR and Lime Rock officials are banking big on this event. NASCAR’s Ben Kennedy also emphasized the track’s potential. “Thanks to Dicky Riegel and the Lime Rock Park team for their commitment to NASCAR to bring an event to our passionate race fans in the northeast. We look forward to showcasing the intense competition of the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at one of the most historic road racing circuits next season,” Kennedy had stated in 2024.

Notably, Lime Rock Park isn’t just any track. Opened in 1957, it’s the third-oldest active road course in the country. It has hosted Trans-Am, IMSA, and even NASCAR’s Busch North Series. Ken Schrader won the first NASCAR event here in 1993. Over the years, big names like Matt Kobyluck, Ryan Truex, and Mike Stefanik took home wins. The track has no grandstands. Fans bring their chairs and watch from the grassy hills. It’s old-school and beloved, but it’s also very close to residential homes and even a church. Meanwhile, a different conversation is heating up elsewhere, one about another historic track with even more promise for NASCAR’s future.

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Christopher Bell bids for points race at North Wilkesboro!

In recent years, NASCAR has revived multiple tracks, and North Wilkesboro is the biggest example. Since 2023, NASCAR has been racing an All-Star event at the iconic short oval and has seen a lot of drama and great racing. This year’s event was historic, as after 18 lead changes, Christopher Bell clinched the million-dollar prize. But Bell didn’t just win the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro, he lit a fuse. After collecting a $1 million check, Bell made one thing clear: North Wilkesboro isn’t just back, it deserves a full-blown points race.

“North Wilkesboro is the best short track on the schedule,” he declared. It wasn’t just a hot take, it was a campaign launch. His argument hit all the right notes. Bell said, “Oh, I think it would be absolutely amazing. The amount of rubber that’s going to get smeared on the racetrack, you’re literally… line and everywhere in between. I think it has the potential to be serious magic.” He wants 40 cars on that track in a full Cup points race. Add the heat, tight turns, and bumper-to-bumper chaos, and you’ve got a spectacle NASCAR hasn’t nailed in years.

Even Dale Earnhardt Jr. has promised NASCAR to make a comeback on the racing track if it adds an Xfinity race at the iconic venue. Last weekend proved the point. Bell chased down Logano on new tires, closing the gap to 0.829 seconds. Last year, Logano led 199 laps but still had to fight off four overtime restarts. That kind of unpredictability is exactly what fans crave. This isn’t just a comeback story. North Wilkesboro is now a solution to NASCAR’s short-track headache. The question isn’t whether it deserves a points race.