NASCAR will resume racing this month after a two-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Racing will get underway at Darlington Raceway on May 17 with a NASCAR Cup Series race that will serve as the first of seven that will take place over an 11-day span at two different race tracks throughout May.
The action from Darlington Raceway will be broadcast live, with the track closed to spectators due to the ongoing risk of infection from the coronavirus.
Darlington Raceway will also host the Xfinity Series on May 19 and the Cup Series on May 20, followed by a race each day at Charlotte Motor Speedway from May 24-27.
“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,” 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. We thank local, state and federal officials and medical experts, as well as everyone in the industry, for the unprecedented support in our return to racing, and we look forward to joining our passionate fans in watching cars return to the track.”
Event procedures will be significantly modified in accordance with the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control and The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as local and state governments, with practice sessions cancelled for all events and only the Coca-Cola 600 featuring a qualifying session.
All participants will also be screened before entering facilities and social distancing protocols will be maintained.