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NC lawmaker pushes for NASCAR’s return with fans in the stands

CONCORD, N.C. — A campaign started by five North Carolina state senators aims to bring back major league sports by running the Coca-Cola 600 next month at Charlotte Motor Speedway — possibly with fans in the grandstands.

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The Coca-Cola 600 is the longest race of the NASCAR season. It is scheduled to be run on May 24.

Whether the overture becomes reality remains far from certain, starting with the question of whether the coronavirus pandemic eases enough to allow such an experiment.

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State Sen. Paul Newton, a Republican whose district encompasses Cabarrus County and part of Union County, told the Charlotte Business Journal that, after speaking with a speedway representative last week, he views a TV-only, no-fans version of the NASCAR race to be a path-of-least-resistance option but favors allowing fans to attend.

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