April 23, 2020 | By Lee Spencer

N.C. Governor Cooper shines ray of hope for return to NASCAR racing

Governor Roy Cooper extended Executive Order 120 requiring North Carolinians to stay at home through May 8. In the meantime, however, state health officials are reviewing proposals from NASCAR to hold the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend—without fans in attendance.

Cooper also said race teams, most of which are based in North Carolina, are allowed to work in their shops as essential businesses, subject to restrictions imposed by local health departments.

In addition to announcing a three-phase plan to return to the new normal following the Covid-19 pandemic, Cooper offered a ray of hope for race fans during Thursday’s press conference.

The Governor spoke of ongoing discussions surrounding NASCAR and the potential of returning to racing in the near future.

“NASCAR is home in North Carolina,” Cooper said. “We are the home of NASCAR—and I am so grateful for this amazing sport that is in our state that not only provides people with a lot entertainment, but also is an amazing economic engine for our state. I have been in contact with NASCAR officials, track owners, team owners. They have come forward with a plan to try and protect their employees with a proposal that there would be no fans in the stands.

“Right now, our public health officials are examining their proposals. They’re also talking to local governments there. There are garages in several counties around Charlotte—Cabarrus, Iredell and Mecklenberg—about how they would run their garages and to get their cars ready. They need a couple of weeks ahead of time.”

Cooper expects to make an announcement on the possibility that racing could return to Charlotte Motor Speedway soon. The Coca-Cola 600 is scheduled for May 24.

There has been speculation as to potentially restarting the season at Darlington Raceway on May 17. South Carolina has lifted stay-at-home restrictions, and Darlington County and nearby Florence County have not suffered alarming rates of infection. Atlanta Motor Speedway has also been mentioned as a track that NASCAR could return to soon given that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp eased restrictions on businesses starting Friday.

In order to race three weeks from now, teams would have to have access to shops to prepare the cars to race. Cooper was optimistic that crews could return to work under the current order.

"From the information I have now, already, under our state's executive order they can begin working in their garages as an essential business defined under our executive order,” Cooper said. “They are still in contact with local health departments that local governments may have different health restrictions.

“We are also reviewing with public health officials, like Dr. (Mandy) Cohen (Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services) and Dr. (Elizabeth) Tilson (State Health Director)—they’re reviewing the proposals put forth by NASCAR regarding the Coca-Cola 600 and how it would be run at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, without fans, and they are examining that, and decisions will be made on that very soon.”