The Daytona 500 is one of the most popular and well-known motorsport events in the world. This year the 63rd edition takes place. The race usually takes place on an oval track with a length of 4 km. During the competition, the racing drivers cover 200 laps. The great American race will take place on February 14th this year at the historic Daytona International Speedway.
While the state is set for another world-class race, it won’t be like it has been in previous years, when many fans from around the world have traveled to Daytona Beach to watch the Daytona 500 race live.
This year the race will be held with limited fans amid the currently contagious coronavirus. Daytona International Speedway announced that limited fans will be admitted.
It was also announced that other Daytona Speedweeks events including the Busch Clash, the lower series races taking place in Daytona February 9-14, and the Daytona 500 qualifying races will also have a limited number of fans in attendance. However, no precise capacity or limit was specified in the announcement.
The Daytona International Speedway has space for over 100,000 fans in the grandstands and more than a thousand others in the infield. The Daytona Speedweeks event tickets have been on sale since mid-August 2020.
In 2020, NASCAR ran half of its 32 cup races with limited fans. In these races, those who were allowed to attend varied based on the local restrictions in force at the time and the speedway’s seating capacity.
During the All-Star race in July last year, only 22,000 fans were allowed into the Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee with a seating capacity of around 146,000 people. Later in September, the place had around 30,000 fans during the Playoff Cup race.
NASCAR said the decision to run the Daytona 500 with limited fans was made because of improved safety protocols and procedures to ensure fans, NASCAR competitors, employees, as well as the local community and guests, have a safe environment.
In November, NASCAR president Steve Phelps told reporters that the sanctions agency was thinking about running the Daytona 500 with limited fans. Steve thought they would let some fans in, but wasn’t sure what percentage.
In a statement from the President of Daytona International Speedway, Chip While claimed the Daytona 500 is one of the greatest spectacles of any sport, and fans from all over the world are coming to Daytona Beach to attend this greatest motorsport day. The President made it clear that it would not be possible to host fans to full capacity come this February but was also aware that they had managed to allow only a few fans in while others were preparing for FOX.
Some reports also suggest that NASCAR plans to allow limited camping in Daytona.
The few fans who have the opportunity to attend will be screened before entering the track. They will also need to wear face masks and maintain social distance.