Racing and fans return Saturday to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway – Tennessean
After a quick pit stop in August, racing returns Saturday to Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
The last scheduled race on Aug. 29 was canceled after Mayor John Cooper held a press conference at which he talked about his disapproval of in-person attendance for professional sports in the city because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cancellation came after three races already had been run at the track on July 4, July 18 and Aug. 8. It also came after Cooper said no fans would be allowed to attend Titans and Nashville SC games at Nissan Stadium through September.
Metro Public Health Department Director Dr. Michael Caldwell attended each of the earlier races and said Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway is being used as a model for other sports and entertainment outdoor venues in town to follow when fans are allowed to return.
More: Attendance policies vary for sports stadiums across Tennessee over COVID-19 pandemic
“I am continuing to do strategic pilot planning with certain venues and (Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway) is one we’ve had experience with,” Caldwell said Thursday while on a conference call with Metro Council members. “We took a pause and canceled the last one, and now we are working with them again to pilot the outdoor events to help us learn. That’s within my ability to provide those strategic pilot efforts. There are other ones that I am considering on a case-by-case basis to help us with our learning as we make decisions to reopen.”
The same COVID-19 restrictions that were in place for the earlier races will be in place for Saturday’s event, which will feature eight divisions.
Those restrictions include limiting capacity to 20% (2,550 fans) and requiring fans to have their temperature taken, wear protective masks and practice social distancing.
For the first time this season, alcohol sales will be allowed Saturday at the venue.
“We’re under the same restrictions, and that will include more enforcement for masks, which the health department asked us to do,” Fairgrounds Speedway president Randy Dyce said. “We started putting it out earlier this week pretty much that if you’re on the property you’ve got to have a mask.”
Dyce credited Caldwell for working with the Fairgrounds to develop guidelines that Caldwell thought needed to be established for races to continue to take place.
“I cannot say one bad thing about (Caldwell); he has been a wonderful person to be in touch with and be a part of our program,” Dyce said. “He’s battled for us, and he’s battling for all of Nashville just to get people out again and to do things in a safe environment.”
Dyce said he expects a field of at least 100 total cars for Saturday’s eight divisions – pro late models, super trucks, limited late models, street stocks, pure stocks, front runners, legends and bandoleros.
Lebanon’s Dylan Fetcho, last year’s pro late models runner-up in the points series championship, holds a slim two-point lead over two-time track champion Cole Williams.
Michael House, the 2018 track champion, is eight points back while Davey Coble, Austin Brawley, Bennie Hamlett, Daniel Bolden, Hunter Wright and Chase Johnson all sit within 40 points of the lead.
Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway website, nashvillefairgroundsspeedway.racing/.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
Published 3:12 PM EDT Sep 10, 2020
