Bandimere Speedway Remains Under Temporary Restraining Order

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO — A Jefferson County District Court Judge ruled Thursday that the Bandimere Speedway will remain under a temporary restraining order.

Judge Tamara Russell is expected to make a ruling July 21 on the case. She said the decision should not be rushed as it's a "your rights bump up against my rights" situation — public health versus personal freedoms. Russell said she's never had to deal with this type of case before.

"I need to make an interpretation of the law that may be new," she said.

The temporary restraining order limits crowds at the speedway to 175 people. With events planned for this weekend and next week, the Bandimere family said that if the attendance cap continues, they will be put out of business.

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The Thursday ruling comes after the speedway hosted the Jet Car Nationals July 4. The next day, Jeffco Public Health said it would take legal action after the speedway failed to follow court-ordered public health requirements at the event.

"We are disappointed in the organization's ability to limit and manage the crowd size, implement social distancing requirements and adhere to Colorado's Public Health Order 20-28," the health agency said in a news release.

Mark Johnson, Jeffco Public Health's executive director, said the requirements were violated after they were agreed upon.

"We want our businesses, who are pillars in our community, to be able to safely operate," Johnson said. "At the same time, we are dealing with the most significant public health crisis of our lifetime, and cases of the virus are already starting to increase again in Jeffco.

"We are proud that the large majority of our local businesses are working diligently to keep themselves and others safe. However, when one business does not, it compromises the health and economy of our entire community."

The speedway's track president, John Bandimere, has made it clear that he disagrees with the statewide health orders.

"This is not a drag race, it's a rally for freedom," he said Saturday. "I pray for Gov. [Jared] Polis that he would get some wisdom."