NASCAR moving Watkins Glen race to Daytona road course

NASCAR will move its August road course race from Watkins Glen in upstate New York because of state health restrictions, and event will shift instead to road course at Daytona International Speedway.

move means Cup Series will make its debut on Daytona's road course, which is used by IMSA sports car series and incorporates part of famed 2.5-mile oval. race on Aug. 16 was necessary to move from Watkins Glen because NASCAR cant meet New York's quarantine requirements for out-of-state visitors.

“This is an unprecedented time in history of our nation and Watkins Glen International,” racetrack President Michael Printup said. “ dynamic situation we are all confronting is impacting our daily lives and activities in unimaginable ways.”

NASCAR will return to Daytona two weeks later as scheduled for regular season finale on oval. Aug. 29 event is unchanged from original 2020 schedule that has been patched back toger following a 10-week shutdown because of coronavirus pandemic.

NASCAR said Wednesday it will determine if fans are allowed at Cup races on a market-by-market basis, in accordance with local and state guidelines.

NASCAR is expected to run its v. 8 season finale as scheduled, barring changes to health protocols during 10-week playoff series.

revisions anunced Wednesday cover six Cup races at three tracks. Michigan International Speedway will host a doubleheader before NASCAR's debut on Daytona road course. After that race, Dover International Speedway will host a doubleheader, and playoff field will be finalized next week at Daytona.

NASCAR was t scheduled to compete on road course at Daytona until next February in exhibition Busch Clash to kick off season. But many of ideas for next year's schedule have been forced into present as NASCAR attempts to complete its 38-race schedule.

All-Star race next Wednesday night at Bristol Motor Speedway will be fourth midweek race since NASCAR resumed on May 17 and just second time in event history race won't be held at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Track officials shifted race to Tennessee, where up to 30,000 fans will be able to attend, because rth Carolina is t allowing large garings.

Poco already hosted Cup races on consecutive days, so Michigan and Dover make for three doubleheader weekends this season. Cup Series also had its first doubleheader with IndyCar last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

NASCAR has adopted one-day shows without practice or qualifying, and starting lineups have been set by random draws or inversions based on last race's finishing order. Many of elements NASCAR was forced into trying in 2020 could be seen on next year's schedule.

NASCAR will race Sunday at Kentucky Speedway. It will be 13th Cup race since NASCAR resumed racing eight weeks ago.

Im credits: AP