Darlington outlines plan to have fans at September NASCAR Cup race
Darlington Raceway made it official Monday that there will be fans in the stands for next month’s Southern 500.
The track announced it will be allowing fans in the Track Too Tough to Tame for the Sept. 6 Cup Series race. Darlington also will host Xfinity Series race on Sept. 5 and truck series before the Southern 500 on Sept. 6.
“The Southern 500 is a time-honored tradition in motorsports, so we look forward to creating new NASCAR Cup Series Playoff memories with fans returning to Darlington Raceway,” Darlington President Kerry Tharp said in a statement Monday. “After successfully hosting the sport’s return to competition in May, the track Too Tough To Tame will be ready to welcome fans back for a safe race experience.”
On Friday, the Department of Commerce announced the track had been approved for its waiver to allow up to 8,000 spectators at the track. The track’s capacity is 47,000.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said last week announced that he is limiting stadiums, theaters and other venues to 250 people or 50% of the posted occupancy, whichever is less, during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Exceptions can be made but only through an approval process.
According to Monday’s announcement, “A limited, reduced number of fans will be in attendance for the Southern 500 in accordance with public health officials and local, state and federal authorities as well as related safety protocols and procedures. To ensure social distancing between groups, fans who have already purchased tickets to the Southern 500 will be reseated in new locations, as comparable as possible to original seats, with new, lower ticket pricing applied.
“All guests will be screened before entering the facility, required to wear face coverings and maintain six-feet of social distancing throughout the venue.”
The Southern 500 will be the first race in NASCAR’s Cup Series playoffs.
Darlington Raceway was the site of NASCAR’s return in May when it hosted two Cup races and and Xfinity Series race in a four-day span, all without spectators.
NASCAR has let fans attend races since the sport returned. There were 20,000 fans at the All-Star race in Bristol and at Texas Motor Speedway. There were 12,000 fans at New Hampshire Motor Speedway two weeks ago. Fans also attended race at Talladega.
“It is the responsibility of the host of the event to ensure that the event is held in a manner consistent with the law and the Governor’s Executive Order. SC Department of Commerce and DHEC cannot certify that there will be no exposure to or transmission of COVID-19 even if all safety protocols are taken and guidelines are enforced. To host and/or attend events during the COVID-19 pandemic is solely at your own risk,” the Department of Commerce wrote in a release to the approved events.
SC Education Lottery to sponsor truck race
The South Carolina Education Lottery will sponsor the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race.
An official announcement is expected Tuesday morning.
The official race name of the Gander Trucks race will be the South Carolina Education Lottery 200. It will be the first truck series race at Darlington since 2011.
“We are thrilled to build upon our partnership with Darlington Raceway by lending our name to the South Carolina Education Lottery 200,” South Carolina Education Lottery Director of Marketing Josh Whiteside said. “We are looking forward to a great race on Sunday and the opportunity to share with racing fans across the state the lasting impact the Lottery is having on education.”
This story was originally published August 10, 2020 at 4:04 PM.
