Darlington Raceway has gotten state approval to have fans in the stands when it runs NASCAR’s Southern 500 next month.
The state Commerce Department gave the track “Too Tough To Tame” an exemption to have up to 8,000 fans in the stands, according to an agency spokesman.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster last week said he was limiting venues to 250 people or 50% of capacity, whichever was less, due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Venues such as Darlington that get exemptions must require wearing masks or face coverings as a condition of entry.
Darlington was the first track to host NASCAR racing last May with two races in a three-day period after missing more than two months due to COVID-19. The Sept. 6 race will be the first of NASCAR’s 10-event playoffs and mark Darlington’s first-ever season with three NASCAR Cup Series races.