Charlotte will try to have fans for All-Star race in July

NASCAR announced Thursday the next installment of return events for its 2020 season. The latest Cup schedule includes the All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, which has been moved to Wednesday, July 15.

The race was previously scheduled for May 16 but was postponed after the coronavirus pandemic forced NASCAR into a twomonth pause in March. Previously, the sport had announced an updated schedule that lasted through late-June.

After completing its first two weeks of return events, which included a fanless Coca-Cola 600, NASCAR has now outlined races across multiple series — Cup, Xfinity, Truck and ARCA Menards — at Pocono, Indianapolis, Kentucky, Charlotte, Texas, Kansas and New Hampshire through Aug. 2.

“NASCAR’s modified event procedures and protocols have been finalized in accordance with public health officials, medical experts and local, state and federal officials,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Further national series dates will be announced at a later date.”

NASCAR hasn’t set a date for fans to return to the track and said it will only provide access to personnel essential to the competition as it works with health officials to determine when and if it can slowly integrate fans back to select events. But Greg Walter, executive vice president and general manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, suggested the possibility of a crowd witnessing the All-Star Race in person.

“We will work hard with our state and local officials to explore what options are available, if any, to have this race enjoyed by fans in person,” Walter said in a statement. “Entertaining fans at the track is part of who we are, but we want to do so in a way that everyone feels comfortable with given current health concerns.”

Last week, president of Speedway Motorports, Inc. (SMI) Marcus Smith said that he thinks NASCAR “will be the first major sport with fans back in attendance.” SMI owns and operates Charlotte Motor Speedway, as well as Kentucky Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Although Smith said he couldn’t put a timeline on it, he said that the speedways are working on protocols to have fans back in attendance and will have something ready “sooner rather than later.”

“I think it’ll be in a place where, one, the state regulations allow it,” Smith said. “And, two, where the large outdoor facility gives an opportunity to provide plenty of space, plenty of distance and plenty of area for people to still have fun, but be in an area to still be in a safe environment.”

Smith added that the speedways are working with state, count and local officials to determine how and when fans can return to events. For Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. that means Cabarrus County and the office of North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper.