A small number of fans will be allowed to attend the June 21 NASCAR Cup Series event at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR announced today, June 9.
The track will allow for 5,000 fans at the track later this month.
The announcement comes after the news that 1,000 individuals will be in attendance for this weekend’s Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but that number will consist entirely of South Florida service members.
Talladega is the first track to welcome fans since the March 8 event at Phoenix Raceway.
To limit the potential spread of the virus and ensure the safety of everyone involved, NASCAR consulted with health experts and officials.
Each of the 5,000 fans will be mandated to wear face coverings, maintain social distancing by 6 ft. and are restricted from accessing the infield.
“We have tremendous respect and appreciation for the responsibility that comes with integrating guests back into our events,” NASCAR Executive Vice President, Chief Operations and Sales Officer Daryl Wolfe said in a release. “We believe implementing this methodical process is an important step forward for the sport and the future of live sporting events. The passion and unwavering support of our industry and fans is the reason we race each weekend and we look forward to slowly and responsibly welcoming them back at select events.”
Talladega’s fans will be limited to the frontstretch, along with a finite number of motorhome spots outside the track’s Alabama Gang Superstretch. Only fans who live within 150 miles of NASCAR’s largest circuit are allowed to attend.
“Our frontstretch grandstands and towers are massive, measuring an incredible eight tenths of a mile long,” Talladega Superspeedway President Brian Crichton said. “That provides us ample room to be able to welcome race fans back with plenty of safe distancing between guests.”
Tickets will be first-come, first-served for those who purchased tickets or reserved camping for the original event on April 26. Those who purchased tickets or camping will be restricted to whichever one they bought for the April race. Fans who had both tickets and camping for the original date will be required to choose one or the other.
The GEICO 500 will he held on Sunday, June 21, at 3 p.m. ET.
About the author
Adam Cheek joined Frontstretch as a contributing writer in January 2019. A 2020 graduate of VCU, he covered sports there and later spent a year and a half as a sports host on 910 the Fan in Richmond, VA. He's freelanced for Richmond Magazine and the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and also hosts the "Adam Cheek's Sports Week" podcast. Adam has followed racing since the age of three, inheriting the passion from his grandfather, who raced in amateur events up and down the East Coast in the 1950s.
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News here on Atlanta said limited to military members.
As the article stated that is this weekend at Homestead.
Apparently,Talladega will be taking the next step and allowing regular people,
Bill B – thanks
At some tracks 5000 would actually be more than the normal amount now days. :)
That is certainly true