Elliott joins dad with win in all-star race
Clint Bowyer hopped off his pit stand at Bristol Motor Speedway to learn he'd won the fan vote to advance into NASCAR's All-Star race — an announcement met by a roar from the grandstands.
It wasn't the raucous ovation typically heard in Thunder Valley, but after four months of near silence, it was better than nothing.
Up to 30,000 fans were allowed to attend Wednesday night's race, NASCAR's largest with spectators since the coronavirus pandemic shut down sports in March.
Attendance figures were not released, but it appeared at least 20,000 spectators were socially distanced throughout the grandstands — making it the largest sporting event in the United States since winter.
“It damn sure feels good to have the fans back at the track,” Bowyer said.
Chase Elliott, NASCAR's most popular driver, won the race and celebrated to chants of “USA! USA!” from the crowd.
IndyCar raced last weekend at Road America in Wisconsin and there was no limit on tickets sold to the event held on a 4-mile road course. Crowd estimates for that event have been around 10,000 spectators.
NASCAR driver introductions were held for the first time since racing resumed May 17, although the usual over-the-top festivities were toned down.
Drivers for the all-star event typically walked out on a stage with their team but on Wednesday night they stood next to their cars and waved to the crowd as they were introduced.
The All-Star Race was moved from Charlotte Motor Speedway for just the second time since its 1985 inception because Tennessee officials allowed Speedway Motorsports to sell a percentage of its seats. North Carolina, where the race was held at Charlotte Motor Speedway its first year and every year since 1987, would not authorize spectators.
Bristol, dubbed “The Last Great Colosseum,” can hold about 140,000 people, meaning it would be 79% empty even with a sellout crowd of 30,000. Masks were only required upon entrance. Fans were told they could remove them once in their seats.
Tickets were on sale through Tuesday evening and still available on Bristol's website until the deadline. The speedway is privately owned and attendance figures are not required to be released.
Elliott won in his fifth all-star appearance and is the 25th different driver to win the made-for-TV race. He and his father Bill Elliott join Hall of Famers Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr. as winning father-son duos of the event.
Baseball: Stetson alum Jacob deGrom and the Mets averted a scare when an MRI showed nothing to be concerned about, according to reports. The twotime Cy Young Award winner was sent for tests after exiting Tuesday's intrasquad game with tightness in his back. DeGrom is day to day
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