Charlotte 600 gets tentative go-ahead from N.C. Governor
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Kelly Crandall | 13 hours ago
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has approved NASCAR running the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24 “unless heath conditions (worsen).”
Charlotte is one of a few tracks currently in consideration for hosting a NASCAR weekend when the sport resumes. Darlington on May 17 appears to be the sport’s target restarting date.
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Gov. Cooper spoke about the Charlotte race during his Tuesday press briefing on COVID-19.
“We believe unless health conditions (worsen) that we can have the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend in Charlotte,” he said.
The Speedway’s Marcus Smith issued the following statement in response: “On behalf of our team at Charlotte Motor Speedway, I’d like to thank Gov. Cooper and all of our state and local government officials who are working with us to get NASCAR back on track with the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend where it belongs. We’ll have more details to share soon in conjunction with NASCAR’s release of a revised event schedule.”
That revised schedule could be announced as early as this week. NASCAR officials have been working with state health officials to earn approval on running races.
Additionally, N.C.-based race teams could be allowed back in their shops as soon as this week to begin preparing cars. Gov. Cooper announced last week that race shops could open and team members begin a return to work under the “essential business” definition in the state’s executive orders. Organizations will likely have limited personnel working in shifts.
A stay-at-home order for Mecklenburg County (N.C.) expires tomorrow, April 29, though Gov. Cooper issued a stay-at-home for the state through May 8.
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