DAYTONA BEACH, Fla — Sunday kicks off the official start of the NASCAR season with the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach.
This year however, race officials at the Daytona International Speedway have instituted some changes to make sure people are safe during the pandemic.
On Sunday, the speedway will only let 30,000 people inside the track for this iconic race. This is about 30% of the speedway’s normal capacity, which can hold more than 100,000 people.
Read: SpaceX sets 20th Starlink launch from KSC on Valentine’s Day evening
Scott Webster, who has been coming to the Daytona 500 for about 20 years, said he and his group have really scaled back this year.
“This year there’s just a group of five of us,” Webster said. “Normally, people come in from all over the country; there’s usually a group of 15 or 20 of us.”
Read: ‘The Bachelor’ host Chris Harrison ‘stepping aside’ after controversial interview
Along with letting fewer people into the track, the speedway is putting safety measures in place for fans.
“We will take their temperatures, have a safety screen and give them a 2 ounce sanitizer,” said Daytona International Speedway president Chip Wile.
Read: On Parkland anniversary, Biden calls for tougher gun laws
Local businesses said they are expecting crowds today. Although it will look different from years past they are hoping for the best with all the safety measures in place.