NASCAR bans all displays of the Confederate flag
98.5 The Sports Hub staff report
The Confederate flag will no longer fly at NASCAR events, the league announced Wednesday.
“The presence of the Confederate flag at NASCAR events runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors, and our industry,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Bringing people together around a love for racing and the community that it creates is what makes our fans and sport special. The display of the Confederate flag will be prohibited from all NASCAR events and properties.”
While NASCAR had previously disallowed any “official” use of the Confederate flag within their league itself, the flag was still frequently seen by way of their fans’ tailgating and cars parked on the infield at their respective tracks.
DARLINGTON, SC – SEPTEMBER 04: A view of American and Confederate flags seen flying over the infield during practice for the NASCAR XFINITY Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on September 4, 2015 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jonathan Moore/Getty Images)
NASCAR’s decision comes amid a serious social push for change, and on the heels of driver Bubba Wallace, the league’s first full-time African-American driver, calling for the league to disassociate itself from the flag in every possible way.
“My next step would be to get rid of all Confederate flags,” Wallace, who will drive a ‘Blacks Live Matter’ inspired car this week, told CNN earlier this week. “No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race. So it starts with Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They have no place for them.”
And on Wednesday, NASCAR made that official.
