Cabarrus County Schools will hold graduations at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Cabarrus County high school seniors will celebrate their graduations in their cars at Charlotte Motor Speedway, officials announced Thursday.

The graduations will take place June 12 and 13. Students will watch commencement exercises in a drive-in setup on the giant Speedway TV, officials said. Graduating seniors will drive around the track to the start/finish line, where they will receive their diplomas.

“Cabarrus County Schools is excited that our Class of 2020 graduates will be able to celebrate their graduation at such a unique venue,” Superintendent Dr. Chris Lowder said. “We are grateful to Charlotte Motor Speedway for their hospitality and look forward to working with them to make this a memorable experience for our graduates and their families.”

Only vehicles with a graduating senior inside will be allowed in the infield, officials said, and local and state limitations on large gatherings means spectators will not be allowed in the grandstands.

Still, the event is an opportunity to celebrate an achievement for students whose last year in high school has been disrupted by the global coronavirus pandemic.

“High school graduation is a rite of passage for teenagers and their families,” said Greg Walter, Charlotte Motor Speedway’s executive vice president and general manager. “These students have worked for years to get their diplomas, and they deserve to mark this milestone in a big way

The announcement comes after the state Department of Public Instruction issued a memo with guidelines for this year’s graduation ceremonies. The guidelines include limiting gatherings to 10 or fewer people and maintaining six feet of distance. Suggestions from DPI include drive-in ceremonies or individualized events.

Meanwhile, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is still finalizing its graduation plans. The district is asking seniors to participate in a survey for ideas, which the graduation task force will evaluate.

This story was originally published May 7, 2020 at 5:30 PM.