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Coronavirus: Atlanta Motor Speedway taking proactive steps ahead of NASCAR weekend

AMS leadership says it is closely monitoring the situation and following recommendations from the CDC.

ATLANTA — Thousands of fans will descend on Atlanta Motor Speedway for the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 this weekend in Hampton, Georgia. 

As the NASCAR Cup Series event nears, track officials are gearing up for their biggest race of the year and their plans include taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

AMS Vice President of Marketing and Promotion Dustin Bixby said that staffers will be distributing hand sanitizer at the gates upon entry and that hand washing stations will be set up throughout the facility to protect attendees against virus..

AMS general manager Brad Hutchison said they want to make sure guests feel safe. 

"We are not just sitting here with our head in the sand. We are doing everything we can to take as many proactive measures as we possibly can with public safety in mind," he told 11Alive. 

Hutchison said he believes guests just want to be prepared and want to what to expect over the weekend.

"It gives them piece of mind. They are not as much worried as they just want to know," he added. 

LATEST UPDATES: This is what's new with coronavirus in Georgia

Bixby said that AMS leadership is closely monitoring the situation and are following recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

“We’ve been in contact with Henry County Emergency Management Agency and we’re following their lead,” he said. “We’re encouraging people — just like you would with the flu or the cold — to wash your hands."

"We’re encouraging prevention, not to panic and to practice good hygiene. We want to provide everybody an opportunity to have some fun but to do it in a safe [way] while enjoying our event," he added. 

Continue reading more on this topic from the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

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