NASCAR set to return to racing at two tracks. Kansas 400 still scheduled for May 31
NASCAR has announced a return to action with seven races over an 11-day span at two tracks in May.
Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway will be the sites for those events from May 17-27. On the original NASCAR schedule, the Kansas 400 at Kansas Speedway would be next, on May 31.
There will be no fans present at the races in Darlington and Charlotte.
NASCAR didn’t announce races beyond Darlington and Charlotte. But Kelly Hale, Kansas Speedway’s director of public relations, said the track is planning for a race.
“At this time, our staff is working toward a May 30-31 race weekend,” she said.
Four races in NASCAR’s Cup races were held this spring before the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic shut down the sporting world, including auto racing.
The first race since the pause is scheduled for May 17 at Darlington. A Cup Series race, it’s set to start at 2:30 p.m. (Central). A second Cup Series race will be held three days later, at Darlington on May 20, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Charlotte also will be the site of two Cup Series races on a Sunday-Wednesday schedule, the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24 and another race on May 27.
Xfinity Series races are set for Darlington on May 19 and at Charlotte May 25. A Gander Trucks race is scheduled for Charlotte on May 26, giving Charlotte Motor Speedway four consecutive days of events.
All of the races will be televised by FOX or Fox Sports 1.
There will be no practice sessions for any of the events, and the Coca-Cola 600 is the only one that will feature qualifying.
Other adjustments planned by NASCAR for the Darlington and Charlotte races include health screenings for everyone before they enter the facilities and observance of social-distancing protocols throughout the events.
The two Darlington races won’t replace the scheduled Southern 500 on Labor Day weekend, the opener of the NASCAR Playoffs. NASCAR said it intends to keep its 10-race postseason format and tracks involved, including Kansas on Oct. 18, unchanged.
Why the Darlington and Charlotte sites for the return of racing?
NASCAR said it worked with local governments and was given the green light to return there. Also, those tracks are within driving distance of most of the driver bases in the Charlotte area.
NASCAR would be the second major competition to return from the shutdown that started in mid-March. The UFC is returning to competition on May 9 for three shows without fans across eight days in Jacksonville, Florida.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 3:36 PM.