LANCASTER, S.C. — April Shannon Munn, general manager of the Lancaster Motor Speedway, wrote an email in late April to the Department of Commerce.
Munn asked if the racetrack could open for private test runs without fans in the stands. His email said the grandstands would not be open and food would not be served.
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The department answered the same day and granted his request.
However, the wording in the email convinced Munn that the racetrack could open to the public.
"Your business can continue operating during this time of COVID-19 pandemic," the email read.
Channel 9 checked the Department of Commerce website Thursday, and it listed more than 3,000 businesses that have asked for clarification as to whether they’re essential.
The Lancaster Motor Speedway is clearly listed there as an essential business.
However, the department of commerce told Channel 9 that it only granted the racetrack’s request to do test runs, without fans.
Since then, the speedway has reopened and has run four races since early June with another scheduled for the Fourth of July weekend. The promotion on the speedway’s website mentions the race, fireworks and lists gate prices for admission.
Munn told Channel 9 the speedway could reopen but did not wish to comment further.
The Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office saw the same response from the commerce department and interpreted it to say that races could be held.
A spokesman with the sheriff's office said he would contact Channel 9 if that interpretation changed.
Racetracks are still shut down per South Carolina executive order and are not allowed to operate with fans present, said Brian Ymmes, spokesman for Gov. Henry McMaster.
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