NC senators call for fan-free NASCAR races at Charlotte

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emailBy Kelly Crandall | 12 hours ago

NASCAR returning to action remains TBD, but five North Carolina senators are calling on Governor Roy Cooper to allow races at Charlotte Motor Speedway without fans.

Friday, NASCAR officially postponed race weekend at Martinsville Speedway scheduled for early May. In its statement, NASCAR said there could be a potential return to racing without fans in attendance in May, but the location had not been determined.

Charlotte is the next scheduled venue on the schedule. The All-Star Race is on May 16 and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. Both the Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series are also scheduled to compete at the speedway during those two weeks.

N.C. Sen. Todd Johnson (R-Union) County shared a press release Sunday morning expressing how racing at Charlotte without fans would mean that Gov. Cooper would have to amend his executive orders. The state is under stay-at-home rules through April 29, and teams have not been able to work in their race shops. The order also bans gatherings of more than 10 people.

“People are going stir-crazy with very few live sports underway, and allowing NASCAR racing in Charlotte would be a good first step toward returning to some semblance of normalcy,” said Johnson. “Gov. Cooper should permit fan-less racing.”

The other senators are Kathy Harrington (R-Gaston), Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus), Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell), and Carl Ford (R-Rowan).

“Other states have already adopted this policy, and Gov. Cooper should allow North Carolina to follow suit,” said Sen. Harrington.

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Earlier this month, Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida said people are starved for content and that if NASCAR were able to hold a televised race without a crowd, “I think that’s a good thing.” Homestead-Miami Speedway is one of the tracks that had its events postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“NASCAR has already demonstrated it can safely run races without fans while practicing social distancing,” said Sen. Newton. “Gov. Cooper should allow racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway.”

Said Sen. Sawyer, “We should be looking at every safe example of a way to partially re-open society, and fan-less NASCAR racing seems like a simple step that Gov. Cooper can take right now.”

And Sen. Ford said, “Opening Charlotte Motor Speedway to races without fans is a measured, practical step that can be taken now, and I urge the Governor to do so.”

NASCAR has repeatedly stated its intention to run all 36 races this season. The Cup Series ran four races at the beginning of the season before the shutdown and has so far had eight races postponed.

Charlotte, Coronavirus, NASCAR

 

By holding fan-less racing, does that mean that race tracks can claim a financial loss

and that the money intended for laid off workers, will go to millionaires and corporations who own

the race tracks at so much per empty seat?
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NC governor expects NASCAR race shops can reopen soon [UPDATED]

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emailBy Kelly Crandall | April 23, 2020 1:56 PM

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has extended the state’s stay-at-home orders by nine days but also appeared to indicate race teams could work in their shops.

“From the information that I have now, already under our state executive order they can begin working in their garages as an essential business defined under our executive order,” said Gov. Cooper on Thursday afternoon. “(Teams) are still in contact with local health departments. Local governments may have some different health restrictions.”

NASCAR has not raced since March 8 and shops have been closed since a 30-day stay-at-home order began on March 30. It was supposed to end on April 29, but in his latest COVID-19 press briefing Gov. Cooper extended it through May 8.

“After a thorough analysis of the details of testing, tracing, and trends, and having conversations with Trump Administration officials like Dr. (Anthony) Fauci, it’s clear that we are on the right path but that our state is not ready to lift restrictions yet,” said Gov. Cooper. “We need to slow the virus before we can ease restrictions.

“It’s important to get our economy moving forward. We’re helping with unemployment payments, stimulus money and the businesses that continue to be open. But I won’t risk the health of our people or our hospitals. And easing these restrictions now would do that.”

NASCAR’s plans to return to racing remain undefined, although officials recently stated hopes of being able to return sometime in May and different tracks have begun expressing interest in hosting a fan-less event.

The Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway (pictured above) is the next scheduled event. Texas Motor Speedway track president Eddie Gossage and Governor Greg Abbott have spoken about racing returning there soon, while South Carolina’s Darlington Raceway has also been floated as a possible comeback venue.

Reached by RACER, Darlington officials declined to comment. However, S.C. tourism chief Duane Parrish confirmed to The State newspaper that NASCAR will be racing at Darlington, and there is speculation it could be as early as next month.

“The RBC Heritage announced they will be playing a made-for-television event, no spectators,” said Parrish on Thursday. “Before that, Darlington will broadcast a race as well with NASCAR. So we do have some lights at the end of the tunnel in regards to events.”

“I’ve been in contact with NASCAR officials, track owners, team owners (and) they have come forward with a plan to try to protect their employees,” said Gov. Cooper when specifically asked about NASCAR. “Right now, our public health officials are examining their proposals, they’re also talking to local governments there, their garages in several counties around Charlotte … about how they would run their garages and to get the cars ready, they need a couple of weeks ahead of time.

“We’ll be coming forward with an announcement on that pretty soon, after we’ve had more conversations with public health officials and with NASCAR officials.”



This story was updated to include quotes from Duane Parrish.

COVID-19, NASCAR

 

Riley Technologies PAPR masks begin testing

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emailBy Marshall Pruett | 13 hours ago

Championship-winning race car constructor Riley Technologies has reached a milestone with its Powered Air Purifying Respirator (PAPR) mask system designed to aid medical staff during the coronavirus pandemic.

From their base in North Carolina, the father and son duo of Bob and Bill Riley, along with senior designer and project leader Christian Rushforth, lead engineer Tyler Hook, and data engineer Adam Holland took the company’s first foray into medical device manufacturing with the PAPR system, which began testing on Thursday.

“We are honored to have the opportunity and I am proud of the effort turned in by our team here at Riley Technologies the last few weeks,” Bill Riley said. “It’s a new challenge but the basic technology and engineering in the PAPR mask is used in some of the systems we use in motorsports.”

Coming at the request of a local hospital in the Charlotte area, Riley Technologies began the PAPR mask system project four weeks ago and culminated in the model shown which utilizes a rechargeable battery pack that offers 10 hours of purified air to the user.

With their PAPR system delivered for evaluation, Riley Technologies awaits feedback before ramping up production.

“It’s extremely similar to homologating a new car with the FIA,” Riley added. “It uses a HEPA filter to meet guidelines, and will go to meet approval on the federal level after we get the input from the hospital on any final changes to make before it’s submitted.”

COVID-19, Riley Technologies, Industry