NASCAR says it will hold its next two race weekends without fans in attendance, opting to contest the events amid numerous cancellations throughout the sports world over the coronavirus.
Sunday's Cup series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and the March 22 race at Homestead-Miami Speedway are among the events that will be "restricted to competitors, crews, officials and other necessary personnel to conduct the race," NASCAR said in a statement Thursday.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said the county was under a state of emergency and NASCAR racing would be postponed unless officials chose to run the race without fans.
NASCAR is working with public health officials to determine future scheduling beyond those events.
Measures had been announced Wednesday to restrict access to drivers. The prerace drivers meeting will be conducted in open-air locations, and attendance will be restricted to drivers, crew chiefs, team owners and select officials and dignitaries.
On Thursday, NASCAR announced photographers will not be permitted at the event beyond a pool photographer, and media will not have access to the garage area or pit road. All driver availability will take place via teleconference, fed into the media center.
The race-winning team and second- and third-place finishers will be available via teleconference.
In short, there will be no in-person competitor availability this weekend outside of live broadcast partners and NASCAR Productions.
For most people, the coronavirus is believed to cause only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover from the virus.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.