The Masters, NASCAR Races Latest Events To Be Called Off Over Coronavirus

By The Associated Press March 13, 2020 at 2:48am

NASCAR and IndyCar have each called off their races this weekend amid the coronavirus outbreak, while the Masters golf tournament has been postponed.

NASCAR was scheduled to run Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway without spectators, but said Friday it is calling off this weekend and next week’s race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

pic.twitter.com/Zyb1WEtjk7

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) March 13, 2020

IndyCar was scheduled to open its season Sunday on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, but suspended it’s season through the end of April. Four races are affected.

2020 INDYCAR Season Update: pic.twitter.com/YkaQ5HKvfX

— NTT IndyCar Series (@IndyCar) March 13, 2020

Meanwhile, the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Georgia, has been postponed until a later date.

Statement from Chairman Ridley:

“Considering the latest information and expert analysis, we have decided at this time to postpone @TheMasters, @anwagolf and @DriveChipPutt National Finals.”

Full details at https://t.co/FX2AN1MLsY pic.twitter.com/Z2DjS5TYdG

— The Masters (@TheMasters) March 13, 2020

Augusta National did not indicate when the Masters would be played.

However, the cancelation means there will be no golf at least for the next month.

The Masters began in 1934 and only World War II has kept it from being played.

The PGA Tour had already canceled the next three events leading up to the Masters, but this was the biggest shoe to drop for golf.

Tiger Woods was to be going after his sixth green jacket. Now, he will have to wait.

Do you think canceling the Masters and NASCAR was the right call?

Other U.S. sports have been canceled as well.

Major League Baseball, for instance, announced Thursday afternoon it is canceling the rest of its spring training game schedule due to the coronavirus and delaying the start of the season by at least two weeks.

The NHL and NBA have also suspended play.

NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships: https://t.co/qzKAS4McEI pic.twitter.com/G6XreZx35E

— NCAA (@NCAA) March 12, 2020

Also on Thursday, the NCAA announced it was canceling the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments because of the spread of coronavirus.

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Tags:

Coronavirus, Golf, Health, NASCAR, Sports, U.S. News, Virus

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