The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has released new recommendations for large mass gatherings in the wake of the current spread of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic across the United States, and they could have an impact on when we will have a chance to see NASCAR race cars back on track again.
On Sunday, the CDC announced that they now recommend that any in-person gathering or event that consists of 50 people or more be canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks.
This would undoubtedly include NASCAR races and other sporting events, but it’s also worth noting that a CDC recommendation is very different than a local or federal government ruling.
Even still, while tracks such as Texas Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway have announced that they are still preparing to hold their events, it seems hard to believe that those races will take place on their scheduled dates after the latest update from the CDC.
As of March 12, 2020, there have been 1,629 confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the United States, which have resulted in 41 deaths (according to CDC statistics).
NASCAR had planned to run their races this past week at Atlanta Motor Speedway without spectators, but on Friday, the sanctioning body decided to suspend the 2020 season as the country was placed into a state of emergency by President Donald Trump.
NASCAR has already announced that their events at Atlanta and Homestead will be moved to a different date.
While no official announcement has been made, if NASCAR follows the CDC recommendation and does shut down their events for the next eight weeks, the races that will need to be rescheduled, in addition to Atlanta and Homestead, are:
- Texas Motor Speedway (Cup, Xfinity and Trucks)
- Bristol Motor Speedway (Cup, Xfinity)
- Richmond Raceway (Cup, Trucks)
- Talladega Superspeedway (Cup, Xfinity)
- Dover International Speedway (Cup, Xfinity, Trucks)
- Martinsville Speedway (Cup)
