The Knoxville Raceway announced Thursday evening that a raceway employee had tested positive for COVID-19. The track had also learned of other positive tests within the sprint car racing community. Race Director John McCoy tells KNIA/KRLS News that the news came as a shock.

“I know there was a lot of people socializing. Not on the racetrack, we didn’t have any parties, there was none allowed. I thought the Sheriff’s Department helped us out, the Knoxville Police Department. I talked to the chief on Friday night, he said the state health department had been down, and gave us thumbs up, doing a great job. I felt good about that, then this happens.”

McCoy says that several racing teams announced positive tests for the virus after racing in Knoxville, but because of timing, they would have brought the virus in, rather than being exposed at the raceway.

“As everyone knows, a couple teams said they came down with it at Knoxville. However, that’s impossible, as one of them came down much earlier than they would’ve. So they got it somewhere else. We’re not pointing fingers, we’re just saying that it just can’t happen here as fast as it did.”

McCoy adds that a decision on the rest of the season will be made by Tuesday.