Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
NASCAR Bans Confederate Flag From Its Races and Properties
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 years ago on
June 10, 2020

Share

NASCAR banned the Confederate flag from its races and properties on Wednesday, formally distancing itself from what for many is a symbol of slavery and racism that had been a familiar sight at stock car events for more than 70 years.
The move comes amid social unrest around the globe following the death in police custody of George Floyd, an unarmed black man in Minneapolis. Protests have roiled the nation for days and Confederate monuments are being taken down across the South — the tradtiional fan base for NASCAR.
Bubba Wallace, NASCAR’s lone black driver, called this week for the banishment of the Confederate flag and said there was “no place” for them in the sport. At long last, NASCAR obliged.
“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. “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.”
The move was announced before Wednesday night’s race at Martinsville Speedway where Wallace, an Alabama native, was driving a Chevrolet with a #BlackLivesMatter paint scheme. Wallace got a shoutout on Twitter from several athletes, including NBA star LeBron James, for using the paint scheme in the race.

NASCAR Did Not Address How It Would Enforce the Policy

The flag issue has been a thorny one for NASCAR. Former chairman Brian France in 2015 tried to ban the flying of Confederate flags at race tracks, angering many fans.
NASCAR did not address how it would enforce the policy or indicate any penalties for fans who violate it by bringing the Confederate flag to the track. NASCAR has not raced with fans since the sport resumed last month amid the pandemic and was expected to have minimal fans allowed at races this month in Florida and Georgia.
Confederate flags still fly high atop infield RVs and are waved by fans in the grandstands at most tracks. NASCAR has been more open in recent times to the eradication of the Confederate flag. Several drivers — including two-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin — said they supported Wallace in his quest to rid the sport of the flag.
The predominantly white field of drivers united over the weekend for a video promoting social change. A black NASCAR official, Kirk Price, took a knee before Sunday’s race near Atlanta in what may have been a first for the series. Wallace wore a black T-shirt with the words “I Can’t Breathe” at the race.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Vacant Fresno Restaurant Heavily Damaged in Early Morning Fire

DON'T MISS

Visalia Police Make Arrest in Deadly Hit-and-Run

DON'T MISS

Madera County Inmate Arrested After Chase and Crash With Kids in Car

DON'T MISS

Fresno Shooting Leaves Man Dead Near Griffith and Hughes

DON'T MISS

Iran and Israel Say a New Wave of Iranian Missile Attacks Has Begun. Explosions Heard Over Jerusalem

DON'T MISS

Man Found Dead in Bass Lake, Cause Under Investigation

DON'T MISS

US Marines Carry out First Known Detention of Civilian in Los Angeles, Video Shows

DON'T MISS

Tensions Boil Between Arias and Dem Congressmembers

DON'T MISS

ICE Arrests of Non-Criminal Migrants Surge 800% Under Trump

DON'T MISS

Youth Invited to Unplug, Connect With Nature at Day Camp in Auberry

UP NEXT

JJ Spaun Leads US Open at Oakmont on a Wild Day of Great Shots and Shockers

UP NEXT

Game 4: Pacers Look to Move 1 Win From Title, Thunder Seeking to Show Resiliency Once Again

UP NEXT

Arcia Has 2-Run Single in 9th to Rally Rockies to Win Over Giants

UP NEXT

Derek Carr Says Fresno Is Home, as City Honors Bulldog Great

UP NEXT

David Greenwood, Former UCLA Star and NBA Champion, Dies at 68 After Cancer Battle

UP NEXT

McConnell, Mathurin Lead Pacers’ Bench Charge in Game 3, Fueling 2-1 NBA Finals Lead Over Thunder

UP NEXT

Teoscar Hernández Hits a 3-Run Homer and the Dodgers Beat the Padres to Win the Series

UP NEXT

Giants Rally Again to Beat Lowly Rockies for 7th Straight Win

UP NEXT

Machado Pounds Devastated Dodgers Pitching Staff in Easy Padres Win

UP NEXT

Giants Edge Rockies on Yastrzemski’s RBI. They’ve Won 6 Straight Games by 1 Run

Fresno Shooting Leaves Man Dead Near Griffith and Hughes

14 hours ago

Iran and Israel Say a New Wave of Iranian Missile Attacks Has Begun. Explosions Heard Over Jerusalem

15 hours ago

Man Found Dead in Bass Lake, Cause Under Investigation

15 hours ago

US Marines Carry out First Known Detention of Civilian in Los Angeles, Video Shows

15 hours ago

Tensions Boil Between Arias and Dem Congressmembers

15 hours ago

ICE Arrests of Non-Criminal Migrants Surge 800% Under Trump

15 hours ago

Youth Invited to Unplug, Connect With Nature at Day Camp in Auberry

16 hours ago

Mexico’s Sheinbaum Urges US to Avoid Immigration Action at LA Soccer Game

16 hours ago

Fresno County’s Firestone Fire Grows, Personnel Added to Contain the Blaze

17 hours ago

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Allan Saly

17 hours ago

Vacant Fresno Restaurant Heavily Damaged in Early Morning Fire

An early morning fire caused significant damage to a vacant restaurant building in Fresno, the Fresno Fire Department reported.   ...

13 hours ago

A vacant Fresno restaurant was heavily damaged in a fire early Friday, June 13, 2025, morning, with no injuries reported and the cause under investigation. (Fresno FD)
13 hours ago

Vacant Fresno Restaurant Heavily Damaged in Early Morning Fire

14 hours ago

Visalia Police Make Arrest in Deadly Hit-and-Run

Michael Sanchez, 30, a Madera County inmate, who failed to return from a funeral day-pass was arrested Friday after a police chase and crash involving children. (Madera County SO)
14 hours ago

Madera County Inmate Arrested After Chase and Crash With Kids in Car

14 hours ago

Fresno Shooting Leaves Man Dead Near Griffith and Hughes

Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles over Tel Aviv, Israel, Friday, June 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Tomer Neuberg)
15 hours ago

Iran and Israel Say a New Wave of Iranian Missile Attacks Has Begun. Explosions Heard Over Jerusalem

A man in his 80s was found dead in Bass Lake on Friday, June 13, 2025, morning while attempting to launch a boat, authorities said. (Madera County SO)
15 hours ago

Man Found Dead in Bass Lake, Cause Under Investigation

U.S. Marines detain a person outside the Wilshire Federal Building after Marines were deployed to Los Angeles, as protests against federal immigration sweeps continue, in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 13, 2025. (Reuters/Aude Guerrucci)
15 hours ago

US Marines Carry out First Known Detention of Civilian in Los Angeles, Video Shows

15 hours ago

Tensions Boil Between Arias and Dem Congressmembers

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend