Samir Allen Farhoumand Discusses How the Daytona Speedway is Doing During Covid-19
The death of 18-time Daytona starter Jim Pace rocked a sports world already heavily impacted by Covid-19. This legendary racer – a winner of the 1996 Rolex 24 – passed away at just 59, far too young. In response to this death – and the spread of Covid-19 – the Speedway took on many safety precautions that Samir Allen Farhoumand believes were only too wise in the face of this disaster.
Why Samir Allen Farhoumand Approved of These Protocols
Over the years, Samir Allen Farhoumand has created a successful practice as a mechanic and is an avid follower of various races. His time working on cars and following the Daytona Speedway has taught him that customers and fans must come first. And the safety precautions taken by the speedway are ones that Samir Allen Farhoumand believes will save lives for years to come.
First of all, the speedway limited the number of fans that could come to each event. They only allowed 5,000 attendees a day, a far cry from the high number in the past. Samir Allen Farhoumand believes that these steps will help cut back on the number of people catching and spreading Covid-19 and may even save the lives of racers who put themselves on the line every time they hit the track.
Currently, attendees can only be Florida residents, a smart limiting move that Samir Allen Farhoumand applauds. Rather than allowing too many people from outside the community to attend, this step limits the community and keeps racers and fans safe. Samir Allen Farhoumand also highlights the various safety protocols put into place beyond these critical limitations.
First of all, all guests and drivers are screened about their health status and given a quick temperature check. Though some may find this step to be invasive, Samir Allen Farhoumand believes it is critical. Suppose a temperature check can alert authorities to potential Covid risk. In that case, Samir Allen Farhoumand believes that the guest and others all benefit by getting that individual to a treatment facility ASAP.
And various types of hand-washing, sanitizing, and social isolation steps are also put into place. Washing stations are staggered throughout the track, and seating is limited so that guests are more than six feet away from each other. Though these limitations are undoubtedly frustrating, Samir Allen Farhoumand believes that they can not just save the lives of guests but keep the speedway open.
Without some guest attendance during these times, Samir Allen Farhoumand worries that the financial burden will be too high to tolerate for the speedway. And giving “wiping” jobs to those in the community – as an increased need for sanitation is in demand at the speedway – can also create more jobs, Samir Allen Farhoumand says, in a time when so many people are struggling.