NASCAR’s first race after shutdown? It could be Darlington, report says
NASCAR at Darlington Raceway might happen a little sooner than expected.
The South Carolina track that usually holds a Labor Day weekend event could host the first race if NASCAR is able to resume its season in mid-May, Street & Smith’s Sports Business Daily reported on Monday citing sources. NASCAR’s season has been halted since March 16 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s unclear if the potential Darlington race in mid-May would count as the Southern 500 or if that would mean the track would host two races for the first time since 2004.
The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled for May 24, and NASCAR has privately told teams it is hopeful that race will take place, The Associated Press reported.
According to Sports Business Daily, Darlington is one track being considered for a race the weekend before the Coca-Cola 600. Florida’s Homestead and Daytona speedways also are options, the Sports Business Daily report said. Darlington would be a closer trip for race teams, most of which are located in the Charlotte area.
Darlington Raceway spokesman Dennis Worden declined to comment when reached Monday by The State.
NASCAR last week suspended its May 9 race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia and has not publicly said or suggested when the season will resume.
“Our intention remains to run all 36 races, with a potential return to racing without fans in attendance in May at a date and location to be determined,” NASCAR said in a statement last week.
No spectators would be a big blow to the economic impact that a race weekend at Darlington generates. According to a 2017 study commissioned by Darlington Raceway and conducted by the USC Darla Moore School of Business, Darlington race weekend generates $53 million for the state.
RBC Heritage, the PGA Tour’s stop in South Carolina, had its original April 16-19 dates taken away because of the coronavirus. But the PGA announced last week that the event will be held June 18-21 — without spectators.
Darlington hosted races on Mother’s Day weekend from 2005-13 and then hosted a race in April before moving back to its traditional Labor Day weekend date in 2015. NASCAR’s oldest superspeedway has also hosted the sport’s throwback weekend every year since 2015.
This year’s Labor Day date — before the shutdown — was going to be the first race in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.
N.C. legislators are pushing for the Coca-Cola 600 to happen as planned. CMS president Marcus Smith issued a statement on the matter Monday.
“Our desire is to run the Coca-Cola 600 with fans as originally scheduled on May 24, but we realize these are unprecedented circumstances and the parameters surrounding public gatherings remain a primary consideration. We look forward to working with Gov. Cooper in an effort that will allow race fans to once again enjoy action on the track as we all work through these challenging times,” Smith said. “For 60 years, this race has been a Memorial Day Weekend tradition at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and we want to do everything possible to support NASCAR, the dozens of race teams in North Carolina and the fans to get back on track. We will work with the governor, state and local government and health officials to make that happen.”
This story was originally published April 20, 2020 at 6:19 PM.
