Back on track

NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 airs live on Fox

On Sunday, May 24, the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 will air on Fox. That’s right, racing fans: no “classics” or repeats, this official 2020 race is airing live on Memorial Day weekend, just as it always has.

Gov. Roy Cooper of North Carolina gave NASCAR the green light on April 28, saying, “We believe that unless health conditions go down ... we can have the Coca-Cola 600.” Of course, this “ruling” comes with a few caveats on top of the one with which Cooper prefaced his announcement.

There are to be no spectators at the Charlotte Motor Speedway before, during or after the race. CMS is offering ticket holders a refund, at the loss of all shipping, handling and service fees, or a second option: a full event credit that comes with a 20 per cent “thanks for not asking for a refund” bonus value.

North Carolina’s unique situation allows them to offer this return, as most teams are based in the state and are within driving distance to the track in Concord. The solo aspect of racing also sets it apart from other sports, as the athletes have no bodyto-body contact with one another. Despite this, in an article for Forbes, industry insiders told reporter Dave Caldwell that a NASCAR race requires more than 2,000 people to operate, even without fans in attendance. Pit crews work in close, sweaty quarters, and their garages have been closed under North Carolina’s current essential business orders. Those facilities need to be opened before any racing can happen, and their reopening is what organizers are banking on.

Last year’s race was won with 52 points by No. 19 Toyota Camry driver Martin Truex Jr. of Joe Gibbs Racing, helping him earn second place in the 2019 Cup Series. For a man who started out driving go-karts in Jersey, 205 top 10 placements in the Cup Series alone (not including his Xfinity and Gander titles) speaks to his dedication and talent. Truex Jr’s 2017 season was one of the most dominant in NASCAR history, so it’s no wonder he earned Busch’s “Most Popular Driver” award two years in a row, despite his somewhat unsavoury celebratory practices.

Despite its high number of coronavirus cases, North Carolina has had one of the lowest case-topopulation ratios in the country, which is part of why this event is being allowed to take place. NASCAR is leading the way in terms of the return of live sports, and you can watch it all unfold on Sunday, May 24.