Two months ago, as this COVID-19 pandemic was just beginning here in America, the racing world was starting to become affected by it. When Rudy Gobert tested positive on March 11, it altered the sporting world as we know it. Nothing was spared, racing included.

By the end of that week, every sporting league here and abroad came to a halt. From Friday March 13 on, the uncertainty set in. Racing was done. Sports were done. When they’d come back, nobody knew. At that point, this novel virus was all new to us. It was feared and nothing about sports mattered anymore. While it was painful to see all the big events this past spring get canceled or even postponed, it was also painful to see how much hurt this world was going through. So many people were affected by this.

But, as the weeks became months, the clarity was getting a little more clear. Sports were going to lead this charge back, but to what extent. We knew nothing we saw in March and prior would be allowed in the resumption plans. We knew some events would be able to continue and others not. When the dust settled, we’d have to evaluate what’s left and how to safety return after.

For racing, the dust is settling now. NASCAR has already returned and were the first major sport to do so. INDYCAR is next. F1, NHRA and IMSA have plans now in place as well.

What it looks like, well it’s still fluid in nature but things are starting to get made in concrete.

We know fans won’t be at any races in June. NASCAR has their second phase set to start on Sunday in Bristol and this part will run through June 21. No fans are included. No practice or qualifying will take place either. INDYCARs race at Texas next weekend won’t have fans. F1 is aiming to start in July but none of their European races will have fans, so they will race behind closed doors into September. NHRA isn’t starting until August and while IMSA will resume in July, the earliest fans to be in attendance for their races is August too.

So, if fans are to return in some capacity, NASCAR and INDYCAR will be the first to do it. Right now, Indianapolis on the 4th of July weekend appears to be the start. That’s also providing clarity on scheduling too.

NASCAR hasn’t officially announced their third phase of scheduling, but if you’re paying attention those races are set. Pocono will lead it off on June 27-28 as the first weekend doubleheader but without fans. Indy is next up. Kentucky after that. NASCAR has said the regular season finale and their 10 playoff races will be left alone. That means the only races left to figure out are Michigan, Dover, Kansas, Texas, Watkins Glen and New Hampshire. The first two will pair up with their already scheduled weekends for doubleheaders. The rest fall into place, meaning the remainder of NASCAR’s schedule is set.

INDYCAR has to get to racing with fans and that’s why Road America was moved to July. So, Indy (July 4), Road America (July 11-12) and Iowa (July 17-18) are set for July. The rest of the schedule remains the same. The races in September at Portland and Laguna Seca are the only ones now left in doubt but their plans into August are set.

F1s direction is clearer too. A month ago, F1 CEO Chase Carey said that they are expecting to run 15-18 races in 2020 and would do so geographically. They’d start in Europe for July-August, then move to Asia in September-October. From there, it would be to the Americas for October-November then wrap up in December in the Middle East.

We know four of the 22 initially scheduled races (Monaco, France, Netherlands and Australia) have been cancelled. We know seven more are seeking new dates (Bahrain, Vietnam, China, Netherlands, Spain, Azerbaijan and Canada). With two added races in Austria and England at the start and a goal of 15-18 rounds, some of those on the “postponed” list are going to move to the “canceled” one.

So where do we sit from there?

England’s race at Silverstone has been on, off, on again, off again and now appears to be able to come back on again. That’s how fluid the situation remains.

The European races left to schedule are — Austria, England, Hungary, Spain, Italy and Azerbaijan.

We know July 5 and July 12 is reserved for Austria as the new official “start” to the season. Instead of moving to England for July 26 and Aug. 2, Hungary will move up and race on July 19. At that point, the teams would get a one week gap before racing two races at Silverstone on back-to-back weekends on Aug. 2 and Aug. 9. Another week off will commence then back-to-back weeks in Belgium (Aug. 30) and Italy (Sept. 6). All of these races will take place without fans.

That takes care of all the races with the exception of Azerbaijan which can move to September and give them time to get the street circuit ready. They can race a week before Russia due to their close proximity and kick off the Asia portion of the schedule.

From there, you have Japan, China, Singapore and Vietnam to make up. China was the starter of the coronavirus, so do they remain on the schedule? Japan can be made up after Russia with Vietnam maybe after. Singapore is a street circuit and would be tough to reschedule. I can see China and Singapore being left off and joining one of the European races.

That means we’re down to 11 races with 3-6 more to schedule. We know December will consist of Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in that order, so that gets us to 13 races with late October and all of November left to fill.

The races left would be United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil. Canada is part street race too and Montreal is pretty cold in those months. I can see them being left off. Mexico and Brazil are warmer climates and can run back-to-back. That puts us at 16 races with a potential 17th is the US Grand Prix stays.

For IMSA, they just unveiled their plans recently too. Daytona on July 4 and Sebring on July 18 are without fans. Road America on August 2 is the first race back with a potential for fans. Then it’s not until Aug. 23 in Virginia.

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That’s leaves NHRA for early August.

As you can see, plans are finally being made and a direction is coming. That’s a far cry from where we were two months ago.