Earlier this week, the return for race fans to the grandstands was looking promising. Now, after the recent developments on Thursday, it now appears that barring something unforeseen, NASCAR races will take place behind closed doors for much longer.

We knew this phase would be difficult for fans to be able to go to any of the races in Bristol, Atlanta, Martinsville, Homestead and Talladega. That’s why NASCAR initially said all would take place behind closed doors. Then, this week, reports started circulating that Homestead and/or Talladega may be able to open their doors in at least a limited capacity.

But, once Thursday’s news hit, I don’t see that happening anymore. It’s a sad development.

First, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced that no fans will be allowed to attend the historic Fourth of July weekend. That means no fans at the Xfinity Series race nor the Brickyard 400. Then, NASCAR announced their next batch of their schedule will goes until Aug. 2. The Kentucky Speedway is a week after Indy and their track officials said no fans at that race weekend either.

“I would like to thank Governor Andy Beshear, Senior Advisor Rocky Adkins and Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack for working in collaboration with NASCAR and Kentucky Speedway to assure this year’s race weekend takes place in a way that protects the safety of participants and the community,” Kentucky Speedway executive vice president and general manager Mark Simendinger said in a statement. “We are very disappointed that the coronavirus pandemic dictates that we will not have spectators at this year’s races.

“We work all year for this weekend and to not be able to share it with fans, especially in the 10th anniversary year of the Quaker State 400, is tough. The health and safety of the public comes first so we hope fans will catch all of the action on FOX or PRN.”

A week before Indy is Pocono and they’ve already said no fans there.

That then takes us to Charlotte for the All-Star race which if Charlotte couldn’t host fans a few weeks ago, why would they now? A couple of weeks after that, it’s to Kansas, which track officials said on Thursday that “the races are scheduled without fans” and that the track will work closely with state and local officials to determine if it may be possible to have fans by time NASCAR does come.

Texas on July 18-19 may be the first race with fans. They can hold fans in a 25-percent capacity now and give Eddie Gossage time, he can pull that off. Then, it’s to New Hampshire at the beginning of August in a part of the country hit the hardest by the coronavirus. If none of the track before them with the exception of Texas host fans, why would they?

That means we could be into August at the soonest before fans can come back.