With NASCAR moving to restart its season, Darlington Raceway appears to be the front-runner to be the first race back as tracks across the Southeast jockey to be part of a reconfigured schedule, sources told The Athletic.



Because Darlington, S.C., is about a two-hour drive from NASCAR’s Charlotte, N.C., hub — and is located in one of 11 states not to issue a stay-at-home order — many within NASCAR view Darlington as an ideal track because it eliminates the need for lodging.



NASCAR is targeting the weekend of May 15-17. Under the plan discussed with its teams, NASCAR’s intent is for the tentative schedule to begin at Darlington, continue at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend, then follow at Atlanta Motor Speedway (May 28-30). Fans would not be permitted to attend any of these races.



All of this could change due to the fluid circumstances brought about by the coronavirus.



Last week, Homestead-Miami Speedway had...