CHARLOTTE, N.C. – NASCAR had been planning sweeping changes for 2021 in hopes of finding new fans and adding some energy to a staid, stale schedule.
The coronavirus pandemic put those plans on hold and NASCAR is frantically trying to recover from a 10-week layoff. So far, the stock car series is succeeding.
NASCAR came up with a health plan that allowed it to resume racing last Sunday at Darlington Raceway, the first of 20 events scheduled in seven Southern states through June 21.
Although spectators are not permitted, making for eerie, empty venues, the racing itself has delivered. Kevin Harvick scored his 50th career victory in NASCAR's first race back with seemingly everyone watching to see if the safety protocols would work.