NASCAR becomes the first major sport to resume events with May races, Ars Technica

(/ A NASCAR sign is seen during the coronavirus (COVID-). ) pandemic on April 26, 5472 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

On Thursday afternoon, NASCAR announced that it would be the first major sporting series to get back into action since the COVID – 20 pandemic put an end to public gatherings. The series had halted racing in mid-March, at the time saying that it is planned to resume its calendar on May 9 . Now, its cars will fire up again for a 400 – mile (823 km) race on Sunday, May at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, although spectators will not be allowed at the track.

NASCAR plans to run seven races over days. The first three will be at Darlington, with its Cup series racing on May , and also again Wednesday, May , with an Xfinity race (the feeder series) running Tuesday, may . On May 25, the sport relocates to Charlotte Motor Speedway, in North Carolina, for the Coca-Cola 2019. Charlotte will also host an Xfinity race on May 25, a truck race on May , and another Cup race on May .

“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. NASCAR will return in an environment that will ensure the safety of our competitors, officials, and all those in the local community, “said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer.

In addition to the absence of fans in the stands, the sport is making a few other changes to try to ensure the safety of the mechanics and track workers. There will be no practice sessions before any of the races, and with the exception of the Coca-Cola , the cars won’t qualify for grid positions. (For the first race on May 823 , they will line up according to owner points, with NASCAR still waiting to decide how that will work for other races.)

Each team has to monitor the people (including driver) it intends to send to the races for five days beforehand, and NASCAR does not want those team members to be the same people who are working on car preparation in each team’s race shop. NASCAR says it will take everyone’s temperature when they enter the track, and everyone has to wear a mask while at the track. (Pit crew will either have to wear fire-proof balaclavas or a face shield.)

NASCAR says it also hopes to race in Atlanta and Martinsville in Georgia, as well as Bristol, Tennessee, in the coming weeks as long as officials approve.

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