In The Pits: NASCAR facing big decision on when to race

The virtual racing has been cute and kept everyone entertained but NASCAR needs to get back to the real thing, quickly, for the financial and mental health of the sport.

NASCAR - really, almost all levels of professional racing - is not built to withstand a shutdown of any sort. Team owners are on their own to figure out how to pay the bills.

If someone wants to race, they find whatever sponsorship they can and try to spread it over the longest season in sports at nearly 11 months.

NASCAR does have a 10-year, $8.2 billion television deal with Fox and NBC Sports, but the teams get just 25% of that money and the checks come only after a race is completed. There hasn't been a race since March 8.

Eight events have postponed so far because of the coronavirus pandemic. A lot of sponsors are withholding payments until their logos are again shown at the track.

Here is the desperate truth: Nobody is making any money right now and the longer NASCAR is shuttered, the deeper the financial hit ...