Amid attempts to slow the spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus, NASCAR is continuing with its race weekend schedules at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. But only essential personnel to complete events for the three national series — Cup, Xfinity and Gander RV & Outdoors Truck — will be allowed in the facility, meaning the races will be contested without fans in the grandstands.
“At this time, NASCAR will hold its race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway without fans in attendance,” a statement released Thursday afternoon by NASCAR read. “These events will be restricted to competitors, crews, officials and other necessary personnel to conduct the race. We will work with public health officials as we determine future scheduling beyond these events.”
All three national series are scheduled to contest races at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend — the Truck and Xfinity series on Saturday and the Cup Series on Sunday — and at Homestead-Miami Speedway next weekend.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez announced a ban on large gatherings in the area that includes HMS, giving NASCAR the option of postponing its Homestead weekend or running it, as scheduled, without fans.
According to an Atlanta Motor Speedway statement, ticket holders for its race weekend will receive credits for NASCAR event tickets to other Speedway Motorsports Inc. tracks in 2020 or 2021.
“In taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our fans and industry stakeholders, the events at Atlanta Motor Speedway scheduled for March 13-15, 2020 will be held without spectators,” the statement read. “Ticketholders on file will receive a credit for the full amount paid towards any admissions including grandstand seating, infield, camping, fan hospitality, pit passes, etc. The credit can be used for the balance of the 2020 or 2021 seasons for a NASCAR-sanctioned event at any Speedway Motorsports-owned track, subject to availability.
“Details regarding the process of redeeming the credit will be posted on this webpage within the next 48 hours. We ask that you wait for those details before contacting the Ticket Office directly with specific questions regarding your purchase.”
Other SMI tracks include Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.
At least some NASCAR race teams have closed their shops to visitors. Joe Gibbs Racing and Leavine Family Racing are among teams that have announced via social media that their facilities are closed to visitors until further notice.
“JGR is taking safety precautions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by temporarily closing our facility to visitors. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” a tweet from Joe Gibbs Racing read.
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