NASCAR Made Their Drivers Wear Mask

NASCAR drivers were forced to adapt to their new normal in the 2020 season, and that included wearing masks at the track. As the United States entered a pandemic-induced lock down in March, NASCAR was one of the first major sporting leagues to enact protocols for its athletes.

The mask requirement had been in place ever since NASCAR resumed racing in May of 2020 following a two-month break because of the COVID-19 pandemic. NASCAR drivers were required to wear masks when in close contact with other people and when not inside their vehicles.

The crew members also had to wear masks when they were in the garage or pits.

Many fans applauded NASCARS’s ongoing effort to keep the event safe for all the employees and crew members that participate in race day. To other fans, it was a weird or even ridiculous site to make the drivers put on a mask in an open-air track without any fans in attendance.

As part of NASCAR's safety measures, individuals entering a track's infield tunnel to reach the garages were subjected to a screening process that involved checking their temperatures, credentials, and completing health questionnaires. However, two individuals affiliated with the sport recounted incidents where they were able to access the tunnel without being stopped or screened.

At first there was some confusion about where exactly these masks needed to be worn and how secure they needed to be. Some teams thought it was enough just to keep them around the neck or even tucked into shirts and jerseys, to NASCAR's chagrin.

NASCAR also had problems with some its drivers adhering to the rules and on several occasions, their drivers were seen maskless and gloveless chatting up the fans in the crowd. In large part, the fans of NASCAR didn’t really care. Categorically, NASCAR’s fanbase was more of a ‘Covid is just another flu’ type of people, who didn’t really take to the extra rules too kindly.