The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development told PennLive Saturday afternoon that Lincoln Raceway in Abbottstown should not go ahead with its announced Memorial Day evening racing slate.
Lincoln Speedway announced the plans Friday night. And while the Adams County track is encouraging fans to wear face masks and practice social distancing, in addition to signing liability waivers, the race itself would break the restrictions still in place under the state’s coronavirus reopening plans.
Adams County has 214 recorded cases of the coronavirus with 5 deaths and 2,418 negative tests, according to data released by the state on Friday at noon.
“Lincoln Speedway should not host this event on Monday. Per the governor’s phased reopening plan, for counties like Adams that are in the yellow phase, groups of more than 25 are prohibited, as is entertainment, as well as professional sports without an approved plan from the Department of Health,” read the DCED’s statement to PennLive on Saturday night. “DCED was not informed of their plans, and is not an enforcement agency. Therefore, the agency will not have a presence at the race if it resumes. Local law enforcement would have jurisdiction over enforcement.”
Mike Heffner, a Sel-Wil Inc. promoter handling Monday’s races, referred PennLive back to the track’s initial release from Friday night when presented with the DCED’s statement.
He did say earlier in the day that state senator Doug Mastriano, a first-term Republican representing Franklin, Adams and a part of York counties, would be speaking before the race. Mastriano, a critic of the administration during the pandemic, on May 11 called for Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine’s resignation over her handling of the virus’s spread through nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Earlier Saturday, Mastriano attended a rally in Chambersburg where attendees misgendered and chanted for the incarceration of Levine.
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