NASCAR still plans to run Miami races without fans. What happens if you have tickets?
As league after league opted to suspend play because of COVID-19 on Thursday, NASCAR plans to continue with its schedule, only without fans in attendance.
NASCAR still plans to run its races in Atlanta and Homestead the next two weekends, the association announced Thursday. NASCAR still plans to run all three previously scheduled races at Homestead-Miami Speedway from March 20-22, including the Dixie Vodka 400, a spokesperson for the track said.
“At this time, NASCAR will hold its race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway without fans in attendance,” NASCAR said in a statement. “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 did not specify whether media would still be able to cover events and a spokesperson for the speedway said he wasn’t sure what the policy would be.
Fans who had already purchased tickets to the races, “will receive a credit for the full amount paid towards any admissions including grandstand seating, infield, camping, fan hospitality, pit passes, etc., subject to availability,” according to a statement spent by a track spokesperson. “The credit can be used for the balance of the 2020 or 2021 seasons for a NASCAR sanctioned event at any NASCAR-owned track.” Details about the process for redeeming the credit will be made available by the end of Saturday.
In past years, Homestead-Miami Speedway hosted NASCAR’s season-ending races. NASCAR moved the Miami metroplitan area’s race up on the calendar this season to its new place at the end of March. Homestead is scheduled to host a NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race March 20, a NASCAR Xfinity Series race March 21 and a NASCAR Cup Series race March 22.
NASCAR is one of the only major sports leagues to move forward with events, even without fans. On Wednesday, the NBA suspended play indefinitely, and the NHL, MLB and MLS followed suit Thursday, and a number of college conferences canceled their basketball tournaments. Like NASCAR, the PGA is continuing play without spectators in attendance beginning Friday at The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach.
The NASCAR races are now the only major professional sporting events still scheduled to be contested in South Florida through the end of the month as the Miami Heat, Miami Marlins, Florida Panthers and Inter Miami all head on hiatus. The Miami Open was also canceled Thursday.
“The health and safety of our fans is paramount for any event we host at Homestead-Miami Speedway,” track president Al Garcia said in a statement. “We recognize the seriousness of the situation and understand this is the most prudent course of action. We thank all of our fans who had committed to joining us this year for our 25th anniversary celebration, and look forward to seeing them back in the future as we host NASCAR races for many years to come.”
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 2:34 PM.
