Today’s the day! All eyes will be on us as our sport returns to the racetrack. Around 3:30 pm ET on FOX, fans can finally tune in as the green flag will fly for the first time since Sunday, March 8th.
NASCAR loves the fans and that becomes obvious when you attend any NASCAR sanctioned event, but until June 21st fans will not be allowed to attend. This is to make sure race fans can stay healthy while also allowing NASCAR to get the 2020 season back underway.
Safety Guidelines
What about the drivers, pit crew, team members, members of the media, and any others who will be at Darlington Raceway today?
To make it a one-day event there will be no practice or qualifying.
Usually, the haulers are parked close together in the infield of the racetrack, but today and for the next several events, the haulers will be parked with an open spot between them. There must be at least six feet between them.
Immediately after teams enter the garage they are required to unload and go to inspection.
Only 16 team members per car will be allowed at the racetrack. Each individual will be screened when entering and exiting the track, along with screenings throughout the day. They are required to wear protective equipment. The reason NASCAR has been able to return before other sports is because of the safety equipment already used on a normal race day. Anyone who refuses to abide by NASCAR’s COVID-19 safety guidelines could be fined up to $50,000.
Darlington Raceway is only about two hours away from the Charlotte, North Carolina area, which is where most race shops are located and where many of the drivers and team members live. The decision to have Darlington and Charlotte as the first two tracks made to limit travel.
Old and New Fans
As NASCAR returns today, all eyes will be on us. Many of us will tune in like we always do because we’re race fans but some will watch out of curiosity to see how it goes without fans and with new rules in place. Others will watch simply because there’s nothing else to do.
For many of us, including myself, this sport is our life. We’re passionate about it and we eat, sleep and breathe racing. We wake up every race day excited and we end the day talking about it. In our sport, it’s not as simple as others and the game-day atmosphere is incomparable. We’re all one big family and the sights, sounds, and smells are what makes our favorite sport so unique. It is why we love it so much. There will be arguments and fights, but at the end of the day we have each other’s back.
To the ones that don’t really consider themselves a race fan, today is their chance to give it a shot. You won’t get the full experience, but if you tune in you might surprise yourself and enjoy it. If you have friends that are race fans, talk to them about it and ask them questions. Take a look at today’s entry list, choose a random driver, do some research on that driver and their racing stats, and follow them throughout the race. You might catch yourself screaming at the T.V. You now have a favorite race car driver and have become a race fan!
It’s Race Day!
To the returning race fans, welcome back!
To the potentially new fans, we invite you to be part of something amazing.
For everyone who has returned to the racetrack, we hope you enjoy the return to racing and stay safe!
Happy race day everyone!
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