NASCAR responded in record time.
Just one day after driver Bubba Wallace advocated for banning Confederate flags at NASCAR races, the company announced it would no longer permit the symbol of a pro-slavery rebellion to be present at its events and properties.
“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.”
Wallace, the circuit’s only black full-time driver, was unsure how much support his position would generate in the South — NASCAR’s traditional base and most popular region — but was hopeful the long-standing tradition among fans could be terminated.
“There’s going to be a lot of angry people that carry those flags proudly, but it’s time for change,” the 26-year-old Wallace told CNN. “We have to change that, and I encourage NASCAR — we will have those conversations to remove those flags.
“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.”
Following nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality, the United States Marines and Navy also banned the confederate flag from its facilities.
NASCAR previously addressed the issue in 2015, when former CEO Brian France said it would prohibit the use of the flag in an “official” capacity.
“We have been clear in support of this position throughout our industry and to those across the country who have called for the eradication of the Confederate flag,” France’s statement said. “We will be as aggressive as possible to disassociate NASCAR events from an offensive and divisive symbol. We are working with the industry right now to achieve that goal.”
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