Daytona 500 to host 30,000 fans in NASCAR season opener

DAYTONA BEACH — Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile said Saturday he expects around 30,000 fans at next month’s Daytona 500. 

“It’s going to be the largest sporting event that happens in the United States since COVID hit,” Wile said. 

The Speedway announced in December that the number of fans allowed to attend the Daytona 500 would be limited because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the Speedway, which holds 101,500 spectators, doesn’t announce attendance numbers, there were an estimated 25,000 fans at last August’s Coke Zero Sugar 400. 

Earlier this week, NASCAR President Steve Phelps also told Sports Business Journal that he expects around 30,000 fans for the Feb. 14 race.

Wile confirmed that Saturday, adding that there would be around 30% capacity in the grandstands and roughly a few thousand more in the infield. 

The 500 is taking place one week after Super Bowl LV in Tampa, which will have about 22,000 fans on site at Raymond James Stadium.

This weekend’s Rolex 24 At Daytona, which hosted around 40,000 spectators last year, is also being held with limited fans in the grandstands and infield, but Wile said Saturday all protocols have been followed.

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Fans in the infield are allowed into the FanZone, but pit road, the garage and paddock areas are all closed.