JEFFERSON, S.D. — Officials from Park Jefferson Int’l Speedway and The New Raceway Park in South Dakota have announced that the planned races at the respective venues this weekend will be run without fans.
Both tracks had planned to allow spectators in the grandstands with Park Jefferson selling 750 tickets to the Open Wheel Nationals on Saturday and The New Raceway Park selling 500 tickets for a five division event on Sunday. Both tracks were planning to implement strict social distancing guidelines.
However, in the days leading up to both races each track was contacted by state and local officials and the decision was made not to allow fans in the stands at either venue.
“After discussions with the South Dakota Department of Health, other state officials and county commissioners, Front Row Challenge Motorsports and Park Jefferson Speedway have decided to run Saturday’s Open Wheel Nationals event without spectators,” Park Jefferson Int’l Speedway officials said in a statement posted to the track’s website. “Governor (Kristi) Noem and her team have been doing a great job leading our state and have asked the citizens to be smart and innovative in how they operate.
“While we felt we were innovative in how we were addressing fan safety by abiding by the CDC guidelines, we also know the importance of working with our officials guidance on fan attendance.”
While fans will not be allowed in the stands at either event, both races will go on as planned. Each event will be streamed live, with Sunday’s race at The New Raceway Park being broadcast by SPEED SPORT TV affiliate Advantage Racing TV. Click here for more information.
“Due to the pressure we have been receiving from the South Dakota Governor’s office, county commissioner’s office, the health department and the CDC, we have decided to continue the races this Sunday, April 26, 2020, as planned, however we will not have those of you that planned on coming in as spectators into the grandstands as planned,” The New Raceway Park officials said in a Facebook post.
Both tracks are offering refunds for fans who purchased tickets to either event.
Saturday’s race at Park Jefferson Int’l Speedway, which is being promoted by Terry McCarl’s Front Row Challenge Enterprises, will feature 410 sprint cars and IMCA modifieds.
Sunday’s race at The New Raceway Park will be headlined by the IMCA modified division, with stock cars, sport mods, hobby stocks and sport compacts joining the fray.