NASCAR is set to resume this month after being on hiatus since March 8 with a race at Darlington Raceway on May 17. Over the next eleven days, there will be six more races, much to the joy of NASCAR fans everywhere who have missed the sport dearly amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
NASCAR president Steve Phelps spoke out on Tuesday during an interview on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast to say that he expects “millions” of new fans to tune in to the races due to the fact that so few sporting events are happening right now.
“We think this is going to be a really good test for us and a real opportunity for us to have our core fans consume the sport like they never have because we haven’t been racing for so long but also an opportunity for other people to see our sport, sample our sport,” Phelps told the Dale Jr. Download. “I think we’re going to have millions of fans that will tune in who otherwise wouldn’t who will see how great our sport is. And so I think we’ll have potential lifetime fans that will come out of this really difficult situation that we’re experiencing.”
The seven NASCAR races that are set to take place this month will happen without any fans in attendance, and strict social distancing guidelines will be in place for teams and workers to follow. Masks will need to be worn by everyone on the track, and drivers will have to wear them until immediately before they put their helmets on for their races, according to Yahoo News.
Assuming these races take place as planned, NASCAR will be the second major American sports organization to continue following COVID-19 lockdowns, as the UFC has a fight scheduled for Saturday.
“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,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “NASCAR will return in an environment that will ensure the safety of our competitors, officials and all those in the local community.
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This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com and is used by permission.
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