US NASCAR auto racing returns in May on empty ovals

US stock car auto racing, a closed-cockpit style that is America's most popular motorsport series, will end its coronavirus shutdown in May with four oval races over 11 days.

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) announced Thursday it will return on May 17 at Darlington Raceway, joining UFC mixed martial arts among the next live US sports offerings in the wake of the deadly virus that has shut down sports.

All NASCAR Cup races will be staged without spectators, including May 17 over 400 miles and May 20 over 500km at Darlington near Florence, South Carolina, and May 24 over 600 miles and May 27 over 500km at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina.

Empty tracks will also host events in NASCAR's second-tier auto series as well as truck racing in the first on-track NASCAR events since March 8 at Phoenix.

Charlotte's first race is one of NASCAR's major events, the Coca-Cola 600, in its traditional Memorial Day weekend spot for a 60th consecutive season.

No further schedule was announced, although NASCAR has said it plans to complete a full 36-race Cup slate in 2020.

"NASCAR and its teams are eager and excited to return to racing and have great respect for the responsibility that comes with a return to competition," NASCAR executive vice president Steve O'Donnell said.

"NASCAR will return in an environment that will ensure the safety of our competitors, officials and all those in the local community... we look forward to joining our passionate fans in watching cars return to the track."