Fans take a stand against NASCAR’s plea for Confederate flag removal

The Confederate Flag is flown proudly by NASCAR fans, a symbol of a time when the whites in the south used blacks as slaves. Shame on them.

NASCAR officials asked fans to refrain from flying the Confederate flag at races. Views from the infield at Darlington Raceway prove that many fans haven't taken that suggestion to heart.

Dennis Dease, a Conway native, could be seen around the track sporting Confederate Flag suspenders, shirt and hat. He said the flag is a part of the sport's history, and there's no way it will stop flying at events.

"I mean, this is the South. It's part of our heritage, and nothing they say can change that," Dease said. "You can fly it in your front yard, on your car, on your clothes, wherever you want to, and them trying to tell us we can't fly it will only make us fly it higher."

He said the flag shouldn't keep anyone from coming to a NASCAR event, because it doesn't stand for hate.
"The flag doesn't stand for racism or nothing like that," Dease said. "As long as these races come to the South, that flag will keep on flying."

Johnny Davis, of Macon, Georgia, displayed a group of Confederate flags above his RV. He said he chooses to keep the flags flying because it's part of the sport's history.

"Going to a race and not seeing the flag flying wouldn't be the same," Davis said. "Any race you go to, it's there. Ever since I was a kid coming to the race, it's always been here, and I think it'll always be here."

Jessica Knowles, of Virginia, didn't display the "rebel flag" on her campsite but said anyone should be able to have it if they want it.

"It's not hurting nobody, so I don't see a problem with it," she said. "There's a lot worse that people could be doing out here. In all my years going to races, I ain't never seen that flag cause anybody any trouble."