By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR announced today that upcoming races at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway will be held without fans in response to growing fears of the coronavirus pandemic.
NASCAR issued the following statement in a a 1:34 email media alert to Headline Surfer and other media outlets that cover racing: “At this time, NASCAR will hold its race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway without fans in attendance. These events will be restricted to competitors, crews, officials and other necessary personnel to conduct the race. We will work with public health officials as we determine future scheduling beyond these events.”
NASCAR issued the following statement in a a 1:34 email media alert to Headline Surfer and other media outlets that cover racing: “At this time, NASCAR will hold its race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway without fans in attendance. These events will be restricted to competitors, crews, officials and other necessary personnel to conduct the race. We will work with public health officials as we determine future scheduling beyond these events.”
Earlier in the day, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez issued a statement postponing the March 22 NASCAR Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway with Miami-Dade County under a state of emergency because of the public health threat of COVID-19.
The last NASCAR race to be postponed for reasons other than weather was the 2001 New Hampshire race because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The New Hampshire race was made up after the season finale that year. That was before NASCAR had its playoff system in place.
Henry Frederick is publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched 12 years ago that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed more than a hundred journalism industry awards in print & online -- more than than all other members of the working press combined in Central Florida since the mid-1990s. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism with academic honors from Full Sail University in 2019. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary programs on Discovery ID and Reelz for his investigative reporting and cops & courts breaking news stories.