Summary
Last year during the COVID-19 Health Care Facility (Hospital) Surge, the county of Lake in central Florida had more than 60% of its total hospital beds occupied by patients infected with the virus. The number of deaths associated with COVID-19 in Lake County is more than twice that of the national average. To slow the spread of the disease, Governor Ron DeSantis issued a ‘Stay At Home’ order on March 23, 2020, closing all nonessential businesses and limiting social gatherings to under 10 people. Although the order was initially scheduled to expire on May 1, 2020, on March 24, 2020, the governor extended the stay at home order until October 1, 2020.
In a time when more people are discovering the pleasures of the simple life, the Lake County Speedway is a throwback to an earlier time when people came together to celebrate the summer season. Since it is a closed course where cars race on a track, one would think that it would have to stop operating due to the pandemic. However, in an amazing show of resilence, the Lake County Speedway opened its gates on May 20, 2020, and continues to operate as usual.
How Did They Resist The Urgings Of Society And Keep Running?
The Lake County Speedway was one of the first motorsport venues to reopen after the pandemic. When the Health Care Facility (Hospital) Surge caused a decrease in visitors, the speedway decided to take matters into their own hands and continue to provide fans with high-speed thrills. The decision was made despite the fact that most businesses and organizations in Lake County were closed due to lack of demand and the economic uncertainty that followed the pandemic.
Owner Al Still needed a way to generate revenue during these uncertain times, so he decided to keep the sport alive. Without the help of sponsors or corporate partnerships, he managed to secure a feeder series for semi-pro racers who were unable to secure a ride in the NASCAR circuit. From this series, Still was able to cherry pick 12 semi-pro drivers to compete in the main series.
The numbers don’t lie. Since the start of the year, the Lake County Speedway has averaged over 300 days of sunshine a year. With over 70 days left in the season, the season attendance figures are already surpassing those of 2019, when the venue was at its bleakest. 2019 was also the last full season of operation for the Lake County Speedway. In 2019, the venue recorded an overall attendance of 174,926, which is a 20% increase from 2018 (161,857) and a 70% increase from 2017 (120,994).
In 2021, with professional football returning and other forms of organized sports still on hold, the Lake County Speedway will provide families with an opportunity to socialize and children with something new to look forward to in the coming months. Even for adults who aren’t fans of motorsports, the Lake County Speedway is a great opportunity to get away for a few hours and forget about the responsibilities of the day-to-day living. If you’re looking for a place to work out or just want to take a drive, the Lake County Speedway is a great option. In fact, it’s an option that many people are looking forward to getting back to.