NASCAR has alerted race teams that a NASCAR employee who was at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 13 has tested positive for COVID-19, or the coronavirus. NASCAR’s three national divisions were scheduled to race at AMS during the March 14-15 weekend, the first NASCAR race weekend postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Several race teams already were at Atlanta Motor Speedway before NASCAR announced postponement of a portion of the 2020 season.
NASCAR has refused to comment on the positive test because of privacy laws, but NBC Sports has reported confirmation from multiple race teams of the notification.
“The individual [who tested positive] is in process of receiving medical care and all employees potentially exposed have been directed to self-quarantine for the two weeks following that event through March 27 and will be monitored closely for symptoms,” according to the notification sent to race teams.
NASCAR’s racing postponement is expected to last through the March 3 scheduled race weekend at Dover International Speedway. The sanctioning body hopes to resume racing May 9 at Martinsville Speedway.
In the meantime, some race teams have shut down while others are practicing social distancing in their race shops.
“Checking in on the @Germain Racing shop! Social distancing protocol in full effect and the Martinsville and Sonoma cars are progressing well!” a tweet from @GeicoRacing read.
Geico is the primary sponsor of the #13 Germain Racing team of driver Ty Dillon.
