NASCAR Cup Series

With a deep breath, we will see live racing on Sunday. No, you will not hear the roar of the crowd, and you won't see much of a victory lane celebration, but in these days of pandemic, it's still much better than virtual racing.

The time for NASCAR’s long-awaited resumption of on-track racing is days away as the drivers and teams are set to embark on an 11-day racing span across the Carolinas, beginning at Darlington Raceway on May 17.

Denny Hamlin would find victory lane at virtual North Wilkesboro after making an aggressive move on Ross Chastain within the final laps.

NASCAR officials announced Friday three tracks will have races reassigned to Darlington Raceway and Charlotte Motor Speedway later this month as the sport attempts to hold its first events since the COVID-19 outbreak.

The return of the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway in the spring will be a new yet familiar approach for the veterans while it will be an entirely first experience for this year’s rookie class. None of this year’s rookies have started a Cup race at Darlington.

NASCAR is in for a double treat in 2020. Already, the sport’s announcement of its return to on-track competition in mid-May is leaving the drivers, the teams and the fans excited amid the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

The news all NASCAR fans were waiting to hear came this past Thursday when the sanctioning body announced the next race would be held on Sunday, May 17 at Darlington Raceway.

For the first time since 1981, a NASCAR season will feature three points-paying races at a single track as the sport strives to make up the lost time of on-track racing.

"Once it is deemed safe for everyone, I can't wait to get back to the shop and see the team. Returning to racing will be such a sense of normalcy and relief for us."

In this week's column highlighting driver's first seasons, Speedway Media caught up with NASCAR Hall of Famer, Tony Stewart.