NASCAR will hold its next few races with an empty stadium to help contain the coronavirus outbreak.
The racing announcement was made Thursday, as a number of other professional sporting leagues decided to suspend their seasons.
“At this time, NASCAR will hold its race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway without fans in attendance. These events will be restricted to competitors, crews, officials and other necessary personnel to conduct the race. We will work with public health officials as we determine future scheduling beyond these events,” a statement reads.
NASCAR’s decision came after Miami-Dade County announced it would ban spectators at upcoming events in the area as a result of the virus, which has infected more than 1,300 people in the United States and led to approximately three dozen deaths.
The IndyCar season opener, which is scheduled to take place this weekend, will not allow fans to attend while also operating on a temporary street course, according to Fox News.
