NASCAR tries to make noise as drivers restart their engines
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Live auto racing returned to national television Sunday, after a 10-week layoff during the coronavirus pandemic, with the running of NASCAR’s 400-miler at Darlington Raceway. Kevin Harvick beat a field of 40 competitors in an eerie setting devoid of spectators and all the usual colourful, noisy hoopla.
Harvick, the series points leader, finished three seconds ahead of Alex Bowman to win the series’ first race back. Kurt Busch, Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five. After scoring his 50th career victory, Harvick, a native of Bakersfield, Calif., celebrated by turning scorching tire burnouts in front of the empty grandstands.
The event provided NASCAR with a rare opportunity to be pretty much alone in the national spotlight (a charity golf exhibition was also televised Sunday), to showcase its product to a wider audience and to try to quench fans’ thirst for a return to live-action events.
NASCAR racing is a thunderously loud sport perhaps better suited than some others to minimizing the distractions of cheering fans, mascots, cheerleaders and stadium organists. Racing itself is a tightly focused “man against machine” dynamic, as competitors joust with one another on circuits like the diabolical, oblong 1.366-mile track at Darlington Raceway. The so-called Track Too Tough to Tame is considered one of the most treacherous on the circuit.
Regardless of the outcome, the event was a big money loser for organizers. Conservative estimates placed the losses for 47,000 unsold seats and closed concessions and souvenir stands at $3 million (U.S.) to $5 million. But restarting racing was essential to serving an even higher cause: restarting the flow of media and sponsor dollars.
The race was allowed only under strict guidelines provided by the South Carolina governor’s office that were meant to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
This event was the first of an ambitious slate of 20 that NASCAR has rescheduled through June. All are in Southern states, including four events in an 11day stretch for its premier Cup series. Each will be conducted under the same new restrictions.
None of the customary practice, qualifying or warm-up lap sessions were permitted. Driver Brad Keselowski was selected via a televised random draw to lead the field to the initial green flag.
“First time I’ve ever won a pole position from my living room,” said Keselowski.