Mr. Earwood is credited with putting straight-line racing on the media map while serving as NHRA’s media relations director in the 1970’s and early 80’s and he was the 2016 recipient of the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame Founders Award. Further, he is a member of both the East Coast Drag Racing Hall of Fame and a member of the NHRA Southeast Division Hall of Fame. Mr. Earwood is also the founding member of the North Carolina Motorsports Association. Mr. Earwood has also been recognized as the recipient of NHRA’s “Man of the Year” Award in the Southeast Region and was awarded Richmond County’s “Citizen of the Year” Award in 2010.
“It was an honor to have Steve Earwood at the North Carolina General Assembly on July 23 to recognize him for his contributions to Drag Racing and Richmond County” said Senator McInnis. “Mr. Earwood is originally from Atlanta Georgia. In 1992 he bought the Rockingham International Drag Way and for 37 years in a row he hosted at least one major Drag Racing Championship. During Mr. Earwood’s ownership of the track hundreds of millions of dollars have been brought to and invested in Richmond County and the surrounding areas. Of the 17 drag strips in North Carolina, Mr. Earwood’s is the only one with 6 full time employees. The track records at the Rockingham International Drag Way are 328 mph and 4.4 seconds for the quarter mile set by Clay Milliken.
