On Thursday afternoon, NASCAR announced that it would be the first major sporting series to get back into action since the COVID-19 pandemic put an end to public gatherings. The series had halted racing in mid-March, at the time saying that it planned to resume its calendar on May 9. Now, its cars will fire up again for a 400-mile (643km) race on Sunday, May 17 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina, although spectators will not be allowed at the track.

NASCAR plans to run seven races over 10 days. The first three will be at Darlington, with its Cup series racing on May 17, and also again Wednesday, May 20, with an Xfinity race (the feeder series) running Tuesday, May 19. On May 24, the sport relocates to Charlotte Motor Speedway, in North Carolina, for the Coca-Cola 600. Charlotte will also host an Xfinity race on May 25, a truck race on May 26, and another Cup race on May 27.

“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 600, the cars won’t qualify for grid positions. (For the first race on May 17, 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 16 people (including driver) it intends to send to the races for five days beforehand, and NASCAR doesn’t 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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