NASCAR Ask Fans Not To Fly Confederate Flag

The Confederate Flag symbolized NASCAR for decades

AP Photo/Rob Carr

Amid a growing controversy surrounding the Confederate flag, NASCAR has announced today they are asking fans to stop displaying the Confederate flag at any of their sanctioned events.

Joining NASCAR in their announcement were all 29 tracks that host an event on one of NASCAR’s three major touring series schedules as well as Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Ill., which hosts an NHRA event later this month. NASCAR’s parent company, International Speedway Corporation, owns 13 of the facilities, including Route 66 Raceway and Daytona International Speedway, the site of this weekend’s Coke Zero 400.

Today’s announcement is just the latest in a growing movement to have the ban banned from public display, especially in South Carolina – the site of last month’s tragic church shooting – where the flag flies on the grounds of the state capitol.

[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]Although NASCAR’s announcement was not an outright “ban" of the flag at NASCAR races, the sanctioning body has made it clear the flag is not welcome at any of their races.

"As members of the NASCAR industry, we join NASCAR in the desire to make our events among the most fan-friendly, welcoming environments in all of sports and entertainment," NASCARA said in a statement released today. "To do that, we are asking our fans and partners to join us in a renewed effort to create an all-inclusive, even more welcoming atmosphere for all who attend our events. This will include the request to refrain from displaying the Confederate Flag at our facilities and NASCAR events.

"We are committed to providing a welcoming atmosphere free of offensive symbols. This is an opportunity for NASCAR Nation to demonstrate its sense of mutual respect and acceptance for all who attend our events while collectively sharing the tremendous experience of NASCAR racing."

1976 Dixie 500 Program

The flag – which is technically a battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia during the American Civil War and was never an official flag of the Confederate States of America – has long been associated with stock car racing, which has its roots in the Deep South when moonshiners used to build souped-up roadsters to avoid law enforcement.

Although seen by many as a symbol of hate associated with slavery and violence, the flag is revered among those in the South as a symbol of heritage, and many of these fans are considered by NASCAR to be their “core" fan base.

NASCAR itself, which prided itself as a “Southern" sport, used to embrace the flag – even appearing on program covers for races held at Darlington and Atlanta in the 1970’s. The flag has appeared on hundreds of memorabilia items sold at NASCAR events over the years.

The flag has long since been banned from official use at NASCAR events, and NASCAR chairman Brian France, who has done much to bring stock car racing from a Southern sport to a mainstream sport, has long advocated removing the flag.

In an interview last month with the Associated Press, France called the flag “an offensive symbol."

1976 Southern 500 Program

“Obviously, we have our roots in the South, there are events in the South, it’s part of our history like it is for the country," France told the AP. “But it needs to be just that, part of our history. It isn’t part of our future.

“We want everybody in this country to be a NASCAR fan and you can’t do that by being insensitive in any one area."

NASCAR drivers such as four-time Sprint Cup Champion Jeff Gordon and 12-time NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr. have also said the flag shouldn’t be flying.

“I think it is offensive to an entire race," said Earnhardt, Jr. “It really does nothing for anybody to be there, flying. It belongs in the history books and that’s about it."

NASCAR’s latest stance on the flag does not effect this weekend’s race at Daytona, however track president Joie Chitwood III said today the track will offer an exchange program for fans to trade in their Confederate flags for an American flag instead.

[adinserter name="GOOGLE AD"]