Darlington outlines plan to have fans at September NASCAR Cup race
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| Darlington |
Darlington Raceway made it official Monday that there will be fans in the stands for next month’s Southern 500.
The track announced it will be allowing fans in the Track Too Tough to Tame for the Sept. 6 Cup Series race. Darlington also will host Xfinity Series race on Sept. 5 and truck series before the Southern 500 on Sept. 6.
“The Southern 500 is a time-honored tradition in motorsports, so we look forward to creating new NASCAR Cup Series Playoff memories with fans returning to Darlington Raceway," Darlington President Kerry Tharp said in a statement Monday. “After successfully hosting the sport’s return to competition in May, the track Too Tough To Tame will be ready to welcome fans back for a safe race experience."
On Friday, the Department of Commerce announced the track had been approved for its waiver to allow up to 8,000 spectators at the track. The track’s capacity is 47,000.
S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster said last week announced that he is limiting stadiums, theaters and other venues to 250 people or 50% of the posted occupancy, whichever is less, during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Exceptions can be made but only through an approval process.
According to Monday’s announcement, “A limited, reduced number of fans will be in attendance for the Southern 500 in accordance with public health officials and local, state and federal authorities as well as related safety protocols and procedures. To ensure social distancing between groups, fans who have already purchased tickets to the Southern 500 will be reseated in new locations, as comparable as possible to original seats, with new, lower ticket pricing applied.
“All guests will be screened before entering the facility, required to wear face coverings and maintain six-feet of social distancing throughout the venue."
Track Press Release
As NASCAR returns to Darlington Raceway (Darlington) for two days of racing action on Sept. 5-6, the Southern 500® NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race will host limited fans on Sunday, Sept. 6. The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR includes the Southern 500®, Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Saturday, Sept. 5, and the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series on Sunday, Sept. 6.
“The Southern 500 is a time-honored tradition in motorsports, so we look forward to creating new NASCAR Cup Series Playoff memories with fans returning to Darlington Raceway," said Darlington President Kerry Tharp. “After successfully hosting the sport’s return to competition in May, the track Too Tough To Tame will be ready to welcome fans back for a safe race experience."
A limited, reduced number of fans will be in attendance for the Southern 500® in accordance with public health officials and local, state and federal authorities as well as related safety protocols and procedures. To ensure social distancing between groups, fans who have already purchased tickets to the Southern 500® will be reseated in new locations, as comparable as possible to original seats, with new, lower ticket pricing applied.
All guests will be screened before entering the facility, required to wear face coverings and maintain six-feet of social distancing throughout the venue.
Additional information on camping will be made available to fans in the near future.
Darlington Raceway 2020 Season
The Tradition Continues as Darlington’s award-winning throwback weekend celebrates “NASCAR’s Champions…Past, Present and Future" and “New Traditions…First Race of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs" on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 5-6. To learn more about the history of the Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR at Darlington, click here.
The 71st running of the Southern 500® will start the Cup Playoffs for the first time on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 6:00 p.m. The Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 will showcase the fierce NASCAR Xfinity Series competition on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 12:30 p.m. Prior to the Southern 500® the Gander Trucks will return to the track Too Tough To Tame on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. The Gander Trucks last competed at Darlington from 2001-04 and 2010-11.
All three NASCAR races at Darlington will be televised nationally with the Cup Series race on NBCSN, Xfinity Series race on NBC, and Gander Trucks on FS1. The races will also air on MRN and its network of nationwide affiliates, in addition to SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.