Pandemic Updates : NASCAR Hopes to Hold All 36 Cup Races

Because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway race has been canceled. (RacinToday/HHP file photo by Barry Cantrell)
(Editor’s note: This story will be updated as the Coronavirus pandemic and its effect on auto racing evolves. It was last updated on March 25.)
Auto racing has joined stick-and-ball sports in interrupting their schedules in light of the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The following is the latest information available:
NASCAR: The series announced on Tuesday, March 17, that its hope is that a full 36-race schedule will be completed in the 2020 season.
NASCAR announced Monday that races through at least May 3 will have to be rescheduled.
During a teleconference on Tuesday, NASCAR president Steve Phelps said, “For us, we have a commitment to our fans that we’re going to run all the races. We have a commitment to all our competitors that we run all the races. We have a commitment to the stakeholders broadly, that we’re going to run all the races.
“We are going to do everything in our power to get these races in. If there are other variables that happen that would suggest we can’t do that, we’ll look at those at that time.’’
Phelps said midweek races, doubleheader weekends and racing during what would have been a two-week pause already written into the schedule for the 2020 Summer Olympics are being considered.
“At this particular point, we would like to finish the season at Phoenix and keep the Playoffs portion [of the schedule] intact,’’ Phelps said. “With that said, it will require a lot of different opportunities for us to look at. We’re in the process of doing that.
“No specifics about midweek races. I’ve heard about doubleheaders, different things. At this particular point a lot of things on the table for us to look at, working with our race teams, working with our race tracks to make sure the things that we’re putting on the table are feasible for us to do.’’
Holding events without fans in attendance is also being considered.
Brought into the conversation, Phelps said, will be the two broadcasting companies that cover racing – Fox Sports and NBC Sports.
“At some point soon, we hope to all get back to finding that escape that our fans are all looking for, in our case, getting back to racing,’’ Phelps said. “We are working with FOX and with NBC to understand what windows might be available. That will come as we develop this schedule. It is complex, for sure. But both partners have shown great willingness to try to work with us…to find windows to get back to racing in our case.’’
Phelps allowed that there have been discussions even about broadcasting alternatives such as eNASCAR and iRacing.
IMSA:
- The Acura Sports Car Grand Prix at Mid-Ohio has been moved to the weekend of Sept. 25-27, 2020. It was originally scheduled for the weekend of May 1-3.
- The IMSA Monterey SportsCar Championship at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca has been moved up one weekend to run on Sept. 4-6. It was originally scheduled for the weekend of Sept. 11-13. This date adjustment was made to accommodate IMSA competitors planning to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which now will run on Sept. 19-20.
- The 23rd annual Motul Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta has been moved back one week and now will run Oct. 14-17 to provide teams a more balanced schedule as the season comes to its conclusion. The original dates of the event were Oct. 7-10.
INDYCAR: INDYCAR announced last that it has postponed multiple events, starting with this weekend’s in St. Petersburg, Fla.
However, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway says it intends to keep the museum located in the facility’s infield will remain open.
Last week, INDYCAR said in a statement, “After careful consideration, including regular communication with our event promoters, health officials, and the city administrations in our respective race markets regarding COVID-19, we have made the decision to cancel all NTT INDYCAR Series events through April. This begins with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg which was to begin today and run through Sunday, March 15 and continues through the AutoNation INDYCAR Challenge at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas which was to take place April 24-26.
“Although we are disappointed to delay the start to this INDYCAR season and will miss our incredible fans who support us each year in St. Petersburg, Birmingham, Long Beach, and Austin, the safety of our fans, participants, staff, partners, and media will always remain our top priority. We will continue to coordinate with public health experts and government officials as we determine the appropriate plans for resuming our schedule.”
NHRA: