Speedway chastised for actions during race

A racetrack in Morrison violated court-ordered social distancing requirements during an event attended by fans on the Fourth of July, the Jefferson County Health Department said Sunday, announcing that it would “pursue legal actions” against the Bandimere Speedway.

The speedway did not limit and manage the crowd size, implement social distancing requirements or adhere to state rules during the July 4 event, the health department said in a news release, the latest move in an ongoing dispute between health officials and the racetrack that started last week.

A district court judge on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order that required the speedway to limit its crowd sizes to 175 people per activity and to follow social distancing guidelines, ensuring fans from different families stayed six feet apart.

“While Bandimere said they would comply prior to the event, those requirements were violated,” the health department’s statement said. The health department didn’t provide details for the violations but said the finding was based on what staff observed at the jet car nationals event.

Bandimere officials didn’t immediately return a phone message Sunday seeking comment. A recording on their phone line Sunday urged race-goers to practice social distancing during Saturday’s event, and said the event was sold out because of restrictions on crowd size.

“The temporary restraining order is still in effect, so we need our guests and racers to maintain the required guidelines,” the recording said. It also noted that county health officials would be on site to monitor the event.

The race track said Friday on its Facebook page it would only allow people to sit in every other row of the grandstands and asked attendees to practice social distancing. The track said masks would be optional.