Going to Bristol
Charlotte out after latest COVID data
NASCAR is moving the AllStar race due to COVID-19 increases.
The All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., is being moved to Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.
The race will remain scheduled for 7 p.m. July 15 (Wednesday), but instead will take place at the Tennessee-based track due to a recent increase in COVID-19 cases and an increased infection rate in North Carolina, according to the report.
“The NASCAR All-Star Race is an event known for making history, and we will enhance that legacy by hosting the event at Bristol Motor Speedway,” Speedway Motorsports president and CEO Marcus Smith said in a release.
“While Charlotte will always be recognized as the birthplace and traditional home for the All-Star Race, the current data surrounding the pandemic in North Carolina makes Bristol a better option for fan access this summer,” Smith added.
Two weeks ago, CMS executive vice president Greg Walter set an optimistic tone for the race taking place at the Concord-based track in midJune, with fan attendance being a major discussion point.
“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.”
NASCAR already has allowed a limited number of guests to return to events Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida. It will open the gates to some fans Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, and a limited number of fans could be in attendance for the AllStar Race.
The news of a venue change for the race comes as North Carolina continues to see increases in positive coronavirus tests. The state saw its second-highest increase Sunday in new cases (1,443). The highest number of new cases in a single day was 1,768, announced Friday.
“That kind of behavior in crowds really worries the health experts and epidemiologists and why we continue to tell people to avoid being in crowds if you can,” North Carolina governor Roy Cooper said Monday.
While the Department of Health and Human Services did not list Cabarrus County, home of Charlotte Motor Speedway, among those experiencing the highest growth in cases, nearby Mecklenburg County, which is home to some team shops, was deemed to be “of particular concern,” Cooper said.
Bristol and Charlotte have played host to return races amid the coronavirus pandemic, but it’s possible that moving the race to the Bristol track will allow more fans to watch the race in person.
Xfinity messages
A NASCAR team raced a car with a “Blue Lives Matter” flag on its hood and the phrase “Back the Blue” on each side in two Xfinity Series races over the weekend. That came just a few days after the only black driver in NASCAR’s top-flight Cup Series, Bubba Wallace, drove a “Black Lives Matter” car. Earlier that Wednesday, NASCAR banned all displays of the Confederate flag at its events and properties, following Wallace’s call for just such a measure.
Mike Harmon Racing unveiled what it described as a “Thin Blue Line” paint scheme for a Chevrolet it was entering inraces at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The traditional “Thin Blue Line” design, featuring a blue stripe against a black background, was shown on each side of the car, with “Back the Blue” over each rear wheel.
The driver of that car, Kyle Weatherman, said in a tweet Saturday, “A lot going on in the world right now and I wanted to express that most first responders are good people. My uncle is a firefighter and he would do anything to help save lives.”
F1 change
The Mercedes Formula One team said managing director Andy Cowell will be replaced by Hywel Thomas next month. Cowell oversaw the development of the turbo hybrid engine that helped Mercedes win a record six consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles since 2014.