Daytona to lift all COVID-19 restrictions
Daytona International Speedway will soon be back to its old self, allowing full capacity and the freedom to roam at the iconic track.
Track officials on Wednesday lifted remaining COVID-19 restrictions for the Aug. 27-28 Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend.
The speedway decided in early May to fully open the grandstands to fans but now will allow them access to the infield and pit-road areas.
“There’s been a lot of excitement that we’re back open and it’ll be the race experience that this community is used to,” track president Frank Kelleher told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. “I feel confident that it’s going to look and feel the same.”
A capacity crowd of 101,500 turned out for the 2020 Daytona 500, but less than a month after the Feb. 17, 2020, race the coronavirus pandemic shut down sports.
In August 2020, the Daytona Cup Series Go Bowling 235 welcomed an estimated crowd of 10,000 and the Coke Zero Sugar 400 allowed around 25,000 people to attend the regular-season finale prior to the NASCAR Cup playoffs.
A socially distanced crowd of roughly 30,000 attended the 63rd Daytona 500 on Feb. 14, with Michael McDowell winning the race well after midnight due to weather delays.
Fans in August will be allowed to walk freely in the infield, grandstands, midway and hospitality areas. Masks will be optional.
Tent camping and RV camping will allow 100% capacity with spacing regulations removed. Also open will be the Fanzone, ballfield area and the start-finish line for a pre-race concert.
Some decisions remain.
“We’re still ironing out the details for pit-road and garage access,” Kelleher said. “There are some elements where we need to maintain some element of a bubble. There will be elements of pit-road and the garage that will feel familiar but there will still be some elements of the bubble that we’ll need to protect.”
The Coke Zero Sugar 400 hopes weather is more agreeable.
Rain postponed the July 2019 race a day. Weather remained a factor the following day, shortening the race to 127 laps (317.5 miles) as Justin Haley prevailed. Around 60,000 attended the 2018 race won by Erik Jones.
Kelleher said told the News-Journal the track aims for at least that many fans in late August.
“They’re the fabric of our sport,” he said. “I love driving through the infield and seeing all the tents and RVs and inflatable pools. It puts a smile on my face knowing that we’re going to witness that again.”
Several other tracks removed capacity restrictions Wednesday, including stalwarts Martinsville, Phoenix, Richmond and Talladega.
The Coca-Cola 600 this past weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway removed all capacity restrictions, too.