Restrictions on fans’ access to NASCAR races are beginning to lift. The gradual reopening has progressed as vaccination numbers continue to rise and local and state officials alter their COVID-19 regulations in accordance with Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines.
Several tracks that had hosted races with limited numbers of fans in attendance have announced full grandstand access will be allowed for future events. NASCAR also expanded the footprint for garage access to selected guests during the May 7-9 race weekend at Darlington Raceway, and the protocols for face coverings were eased in outdoor settings the next weekend at Dover International Speedway.
Keep track of the evolving access levels and reopening announcements with this track-by-track timeline:
Status: Grandstand seating limitations have been lifted, opening the door for thousands more race fans to enjoy an action-packed month of May at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Per an executive order announced May 14 in North Carolina, fans will no longer be required to wear masks or socially distance in outdoor venues. Following state recommendations, fans who have not been vaccinated are still encouraged to wear a mask.
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“From the outset of the pandemic, whether operating a drive-through testing clinic or hosting the state‘s first mass vaccination event, this has been the ultimate goal — to get back to filling the grandstands for the biggest, most entertaining events in motorsports,” said Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Status: The Northern California circuit announced April 8 its grandstands would reopen to fans for its NASCAR event weekend, working with local and state officials to observe COVID-19 protocols. The 2.52-mile road course did not host a NASCAR event during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
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“We are thrilled to be able to open our gates and welcome fans back to the raceway for our annual NASCAR race weekend in June. We are fortunate to have a beautiful, outdoor facility that is perfect for social distancing and will provide a safe and memorable race-day experience for our guests. We look forward to welcoming the greatest fans and drivers in motorsports back to Northern California,” said Jill Gregory, Sonoma Raceway’s executive vice president and general manager.
Status: The Fort Worth track announced April 8 infield camping would return for its NASCAR and IndyCar weekends, opening the east side of the infield to fans and keeping the garage area’s footprint separate on the west side of the track. That news came three days after the track indicated its Speedway Club dining and event space would reopen May 1-2 for its IndyCar doubleheader.
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“We couldn‘t be happier to welcome our great race fans back to the GEICO Infield Campground for two amazing weekends of the best auto racing in the world during our 25th Season of Speed,” said Eddie Gossage, Texas Motor Speedway’s president and general manager. “Infield camping at Texas Motor Speedway is an experience unto itself so we‘ve missed the race fans being in the infield as much as they‘ve missed being here.”
The 1.5-mile track has hosted multiple vaccination clinics on its grounds, and the Denton (Texas) Record-Chronicle reported county health officials had given 371,546 vaccine doses through the speedway immunization site.
Status: Shortly after a May 4 announcement by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, the 2.5-mile track issued a statement that it would operate at 100% in the grandstands and camping facilities for its NASCAR weekend. The raceway indicated it would follow all state-issued protocols and NASCAR guidelines that are in place at the time of the event. A mask mandate is in place until 70% of Pennsylvania residents receive a vaccine, but there are no social-distancing restrictions in place at this time.
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“We are thrilled and appreciative of today‘s announcement from Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf,” the track statement read. “As we have been doing, the Raceway will continue to follow the protocols and guidance set forth by our state and the sanctioning body of NASCAR at the time of our events.”
Status: The Hampton, Georgia, track announced April 30 its July date would be open with full-capacity grandstands for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak. The venue plans to follow the state and local health guidelines that are in place when the July race weekend arrives, using hand-sanitizing stations, plus cashless transactions and ticketing to limit contact.
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“As we‘ve seen millions across Georgia and the Southeast get vaccinated, public health restrictions have eased and that gives us the green flag to take a big step towards welcoming more people to enjoy race weekend,” said Brandon Hutchison, Atlanta Motor Speedway’s executive vice president and general manager. “Needless to say, we can‘t wait to have thousands of fans join us for some thrilling NASCAR action this summer.”
Status: The Brickyard has not announced its procedures or admittance for its annual NASCAR weekend, which will be fully contested on the oval/road-course layout for the first time. Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been approved for attendance of 135,000 in the grandstands for the Indianapolis 500 on May 30, a little more than half of its capacity. The track, which has hosted multiple vaccination clinics leading up to the 500-miler, plans to adhere to a county mask mandate but will no longer require temperature checks at entry.
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Status: There will be no restrictions on the number of fans allowed to take in the action at the World Center of Racing. Fans will be treated to two races — the Coke Zero Sugar 400, NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale, on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. ET and the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Friday, Aug. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
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“The fans are the lifeblood of NASCAR and the reason we race week in and week out. Their presence at the track creates the aura and energy this sport thrives upon,” Daytona International Speedway President Frank Kelleher said. “Even with a limited capacity at the Daytona 500 the atmosphere was palpable, so we look forward to welcoming back all of our fans for what will be an electrifying environment filled with dramatic and unpredictable racing action.”
Status: Darlington Raceway serves as host for the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs over the fall race weekend on Sept. 4-5. There will be no restrictions on the number of fans allowed to take in the action from the grandstands for the famed Cook Out Southern 500 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race on Sunday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. ET and Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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“Our loyal race fans have displayed their passion for NASCAR at Darlington Raceway throughout the pandemic, so this is a key moment in our storied track’s history to fully open our gates once again for the fall race weekend featuring one of the crown jewel races of NASCAR, the Cook Out Southern 500,” Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp said. “Thanks to Governor McMaster and his administration for their collaboration in helping us take this step forward together as a state to welcome the best fans in motorsports back home to the track Too Tough To Tame.”
Status: KVVU-TV 5 in Las Vegas reported May 18 the 1.5-mile Las Vegas track expects to operate at 100% capacity after Clark County’s restrictions ease, starting June 1. The facility hosted roughly 15,000 fans for its NASCAR weekend in March, and its postseason races last September were held with no fans in attendance.
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“We’re very excited the Clark County Commission is going to free us up to sell 100% of our tickets,” Las Vegas Motor Speedway President Chris Powell told the FOX affiliate. “And thank goodness so many people have been vaccinated and the numbers have improved so much.”
Status: There are no restrictions on the number of fans allowed to take in the action from the grandstands. Fans will be treated to three races — the Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. ET and on Saturday, Oct. 23, the Kansas Lottery 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at 2 p.m. ET followed by the Reese‘s 150 ARCA Menards Series championship race at 6 p.m. ET.
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“Fans have expressed their overwhelming desire to get back to the racetrack so we are thrilled to welcome back all of our fans as we celebrate our 20th anniversary season during the Hollywood Casino 400 NASCAR Playoffs weekend,” Kansas Speedway President Pat Warren said. “We saw some great NASCAR racing throughout our spring race weekend, and we look forward to what‘s in store when the NASCAR Playoffs and ARCA Menards Series championship return Oct. 23-24.”
