Penn Can Speedway plans to break with Susquehanna County’s yellow phase status in the state’s coronavirus restriction easing as it hosts its first races of the season on Sunday night.
The Susquehanna racetrack was set to do so Friday night, Penn Can Speedway general manager Joanne Mady told PennLive Saturday evening, before getting rained out. Local police sat across the street last night before the race was canceled, she said. And the track was cited twice last weekend for holding practices. But the track owners don’t want to wait any longer to return to making money from the track.
“When it [coronavirus] was at the height of it we said 'OK we’re gonna do our part to flatten the curve. We canceled the first 3 weeks," Mady said. "When we felt it became political we said ‘Enough is enough,’ we’ve got to open the track. It’s not a political stance. But if we don’t open there won’t be a racetrack.”
- Lincoln Raceway in Abbottstown also plans to run races Monday night
- The PA DCED told PennLive they shouldn’t. The PA DCED also told PennLive it’s not an enforcement agency.
Penn Can Speedway might’ve been more likely to comply with yellow phase restrictions, Mady said, if the track could’ve gotten any grants, loans or other assistance from government relief. But Mady, along with other small business owners around the state and country, founder herself either ineligible or effectively so.
Gov. Tom Wolf's red, yellow and green phases reopening Pennsylvania after coronavirus-related shutdowns in 2020. (Graphic via the governor's office.)
Instead, the Folk family that owns the track saw a short window in which to make back the money it spent on laying down 770 tons of clay and expanding the bleachers from 200 to 2,000 seats, Mady said, and decided to go for it.
“We weren’t eligible for the small business loans and grants that were out there. Not for a lack of trying,” Mady said, "because trust me when I tell you I spent hours and hours looking for something. And again we had to open. We’ve still got our bills to pay, our lease to pay. We’ve still got a premium even if we’re not open.”
There have been 93 documented cases of COVID-19 in Susquehanna County with 15 deaths and 600 negative results, according to data released by the state as of Friday at noon. There were approximately 43,000 people in Susquehanna County, per the 2010 census.
Gov. Tom Wolf has repeatedly claimed the state lacks the capacity to enforce its own orders.
When asked, Mady said she had no idea how many fans to expect. Last year she would’ve been able to get an estimate, she said, but some racing fans will simply stay home due to the coronavirus. All fans will be asked to socially distance. They’ll be given a liability waiver at the gate, though not required to sign it for entry, Mady said. Signage encouraging social distancing is posted all over the track and a similar message will be announced over the PA system.
A crew spent the day disinfecting buildings and bleachers Saturday following Friday’s rainout. Spectators will be required to wear masks to enter the venue and concession stands will be covered with plastic wrap.
Mady also expects families will sit together.
“They’ve been in the same house,” she said. “They’re a family.”
The track has not heard from the state government about trying to stop this weekend’s race. Lincoln Raceway has announced plans for Monday night racing as well. The Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development was not aware of Lincoln Raceway’s plans when contacted by PennLive on Saturday, but issued a statement advising the track not host races Monday.
“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,” the DCED wrote in a statement. “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.”
Penn Can’s Sunday night slate includes the Pappy Beavan Memorial 40 with a prize of $1,955, the Sportsman 30 for $1,000 and the Grit 600 Modified Tour 20 with a first-place prize of $1,000 and $500 for the runner-up.
Pit gates are set to open at 4 p.m., the grandstand at 5 p.m. with hot laps at 6:30 and racing starting at 7:15.
“There’s always a concern and the way we feel about it, if we do get cited, fine. You know, we’ll deal with it if and when it happens," Mady said. "We’ll let it work its way it’s out.”
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