NASCAR: What are the penalties for violating COVID-19 guidelines?
By Asher Fair
There will be some hefty fines issued by NASCAR to those who violate the COVID-19 guidelines during the upcoming race dates.
Last week, NASCAR confirmed that there will be penalties issued to those who do not comply with the COVID-19 event protocol guidelines which were issued ahead of the sport’s return to action.
Real-life action is scheduled to return this Sunday, May 17 at Darlington Raceway with a Cup Series race, the first of seven races across the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series from this date through Wednesday, May 27.
This race, a 293-lap race around the four-turn, 1.366-mile (2.198-kilometer) oval in Darlington, South Carolina, is the first race since the Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway took place 10 weeks ago on Sunday, March 8.
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With this race scheduled to take place tomorrow, let’s take a look at what the penalties will be should anybody violate any of these guidelines.
Everybody in the infield is to wear a mask and observe social distancing guidelines. If this does not happen, the fines range from $2,500 to $50,000, depending on the series.
In the 11-day span that includes seven races, there are scheduled to be four Cup Series races, two Xfinity Series races and one Truck Series race.
Two Cup Series races are scheduled to take place at Darlington Raceway while two are scheduled to take place at Charlotte Motor Speedway. These two tracks are each slated to host one Xfinity Series race while the latter is set to host a Truck Series race.
The Truck Series fines range from $2,500 to $12,500, but this won’t apply at Darlington Raceway since NASCAR’s third highest level will not see any action at “The Lady in Black”.
For the Xfinity Series, fines range from twice those amounts ($5,000 to $25,000), and for the Cup Series, fines range from twice the Xfinity Series amounts ($10,000 to $50,000).
Hopefully, not only for the sake of everybody’s bank account but everybody’s health, these fines amount to $0 when it’s all said and done.
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Fox is set to broadcast NASCAR’s return live from Darlington Raceway beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET this Sunday, May 17. Be sure not to miss the The Real Heroes 400.