DARLINGTON, S.C. – NASCAR will not be as you remember it when racing returns Sunday at one of the circuit’s beloved old tracks, egg-shaped Darlington Raceway.
There will be no elaborate infield tailgates, inflatable pools or hundreds of American flags that fly above the campers. The grandstands will be empty gray rows, with no spectators allowed.
Darius Rucker will perform the national anthem from elsewhere, Fox Sports will call the 3:30 p.m. race remotely from a studio in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the celebration in victory lane will be a muted affair void of high-fives and hugs. Drivers don’t have to shuttle between hospitality events to schmooze with sponsors. Their car owners aren’t even expected to be at the track – most are over 65 and considered at risk for the coronavirus, with their presence not essential to conducting a race.
It will be weird and look nothing like it did 10 weeks ago when NASCAR last raced before its season was suspended by the coronavirus pandemic. But as sports fans across the country have clamored for live action, it will be a rare opportunity for NASCAR to be alone in the spotlight and showcase its product – perhaps even to viewers who have long expressed zero interest in stock car racing.
There is no practice or qualifying, and Brad Keselowski will lead the field to green, having received the pole position Thursday night when the lineup was set in a televised random draw. Most of the drivers last raced March 8 and will take the green flag with no warmup and no idea if their car is properly prepared to tackle what is considered one of the most technical tracks in NASCAR.