Yes, and No. While the Engle Road Race Course and Speedway Om Bagley are both open, they are not always up to date with the COVID-19 protocols.
The first question you need to ask yourself is whether or not you’re an athlete. If you’re an athlete, you might want to consider competing in a virtual or online championship. However, if you’re just a spectator, you might want to consider showing up at the track and letting your voice be heard.
The Engle Road Race Course and the Speedway Om Bagley are open, however, both are under the heading of ‘non-essential businesses’ and are therefore subject to close down if public health guidelines are not followed.
It’s no secret that the coronavirus pandemic and the summer 2020 racing season haven’t sat well together. In fact, throughout the season we’ve only had a handful of races to choose from. Thankfully, with the exception of one, all the others have been postponed or run virtually.
The Virginia Championship, the first of the major NASCAR events, was held last month and served as a stark reminder of how little track activity there was in the season’s first half.
The Winston Salem Dash and the Coke Zero Sugar 500, which was run in conjunction with the Salem Speedway, were also among the few events that actually took place. Like the Virginia Championship, these two races were also held in early May and were, therefore, probably postponed in order to secure the health and safety of the competitors and the attendees.
It was announced on May 4th that the remaining four NASCAR events (the Busch Clash, the Darlington Doubleheader, the Talladega Trailblazer, and the All-Star Race) would be postponed until later this year.
That means that, for the foreseeable future, we’ll be living in a world where there are fewer cars at the races and more social distancing. Hopefully, this will give us all a better chance at pulling through this pandemic stronger than ever.
Which Race Should You Attend?
There are a few things you should keep in mind before making a decision about which NASCAR race to attend.
First off, make sure you attend the one closest to your home. This is particularly important if you’re driving, as you don’t want to put yourself in further danger of getting sick.
If you’re a current or former competitor, you should also check with the organizers of the race as to whether or not you’re allowed to attend. You don’t want to break any rules regarding COVID-19 etiquette.
Should You Go To The Track?
Even if you’re not an athlete, you might still want to show up at the track and take in a bit of NASCAR action. There is a lot of anticipation surrounding the coming racing season and it would be a shame to miss out on the action due to concerns about COVID-19.
However, given the circumstances, you might want to consider going to the track in a group. This way, you’ll feel more secure knowing that you’re not violating any social distancing protocols.
The Benefits Of Attending Live Racing
There are a few key advantages to attending a live NASCAR race.
First off, the atmosphere at a live race is completely different from that of a TV broadcast or a recorded race. The latter two are, in many ways, similar, but still very different.
When you attend a live race, you’re in the thick of things and can feel the excitement emanating from the crowd. You might also hear the noise from the cars as they’re racing by, which adds an extra element of tension.
The worst thing you can do in this situation is to sit back and relax. You should be fully engaged, standing or sitting, moving or still, depending on where you’re situated.
If you’ve never been to a live race, you should definitely go see one this year. While there’s a lot of excitement surrounding the upcoming racing season, there is also a lot of anxiety. We’ve never been through a situation like this and we’re not exactly sure how it will all play out. It will be interesting to see if this year’s races bring about any changes in relation to the protocols surrounding COVID-19.