NASCAR becomes first major sport to return, will start (without fans) on May 17
Posted April 30, 2020 3:24 p.m. EDT
Updated April 30, 2020 7:45 p.m. EDT
It was all but a formality, but NASCAR will become the first major sport to return to action after the sports world was all but shut down on March 12, 2020.
NASCAR will begin again on May 17 with a NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, a little over two months after sports' initial pause in the action. That starts a string of seven races, three at Darlington Raceway and four at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Coca-Cola 600 will be held on Memorial Day Weekend, Sunday May 24, as previously announced.
There will be no fans in attendance for any of these races, and NASCAR - according to its release posted on its website - has been collaborating with public health officials, medical experts and local, state and federal officials to get things set with a plan to ensure the health and safety of all involved.
There will be no practice sessions for any of the events, and the only event in which qualifying will be held will be the Coca-Cola 600. NASCAR also said it will require health screenings for everyone who enters each facility, the use of protective equipment and social distancing.
“NASCAR and its teams are eager and excited to return to racing, and have great respect for the responsibility that comes with a return to competition,” Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer, said in the release. “NASCAR will return in an environment that will ensure the safety of our competitors, officials and all those in the local community. We thank local, state and federal officials and medical experts, as well as everyone in the industry, for the unprecedented support in our return to racing, and we look forward to joining our passionate fans in watching cars return to the track.”
NASCAR also said the races at Darlington on May 17 and May 20 - both Cup Series races - will not replace the Labor Day Weekend Southern 500, which is the opener of the NASCAR Playoffs. As of now, NASCAR will keep its 10-race postseason format intact.
NASCAR did not announce any races beyond May 27, but said in its release that it intends to keep its full 36-race Cup Series slate.
