“I’m still a country drag strip; I can’t compete against zMAX Dragway. I can’t compete against these guys that spend $37 million on drag strips,” he said. “Businesswise, it doesn’t work. There’s an eighth-mile track here in North Carolina that a guy spent $8 million on. He will never get his investment back. I’ve got to stay in business. I’ve got to show a profit to carry my full-time employees.”
And despite the region’s economic struggles, Earwood is extremely proud that he provides full-time employment for six people.
“It’s a tough economy down here, but I have six full-time employees year-round. There are 18 drag strips in North Carolina and this is the only track that has six full-time employees — and that includes zMAX,” he said. “I’m in this poor, poor market of Richmond County and we are able to survive and do well — with the right weather.”
Built in 1971, Earwood describes Rockingham Dragway as a spartan facility.
“I’ve got a safe race track. I’ve got concrete walls. I’ve got insurance. I’ve got an ambulance and emergency crews,” he said. “I’ve got adequate restrooms. I’ve got more paved parking than anyone in the state and I pay the purses that I post.
“As far as having self-flushing commodes, no don’t have that. A $3 million tower, no don’t have that. I’ve got one that’s adequate. It’s air conditioned and you can see the race track out of it,” Earwood added. “I do keep the facility working. The things that are really important to the racers, we keep those up.”
Even though he’s worked in drag racing since the early 1970s, Earwood says he needs the answers to two questions before he’s ready to think about easing off the throttle.
“How much money do you need for the rest of your life and how long are you going to live?” he asked. “If I knew those two things — but I don’t, so I was up at 4:30 this morning and I was in the office early. I’m going to do this until they put me in a pinewood box.”