NASCAR Chief: Ban Confederate Flag

[Lakhota]

SONOMA, Calif. (AP) — Calling the Confederate flag an "insensitive symbol" he personally finds offensive, NASCAR chairman Brian France said the sport will be aggressive in disassociating the symbol from its events.

"We want to go as far as we can to eliminate the presence of that flag," France told The Associated Press on Saturday. "I personally find it an offensive symbol, so there is no daylight how we feel about it and our sensitivity to others who feel the same way.

"We're working with the industry to see how far we can go to get that flag to be disassociated entirely from our events."

Earlier this week, NASCAR said it backed South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's call to remove the Confederate flag from state capitol grounds, and noted that it bars the flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity.

But banning it on race track property is a much larger task for NASCAR, which began as a Southern sport and many of its fans still embrace the flag. It flies atop campers and at camp sites at many races as fans spend entire weekends in either the infield or surrounding areas of track property.

The size of the crowd, and NASCAR's own acknowledgment that fans have a right to freedom of expression, would make it difficult to police the presence of the flag.

But France insisted NASCAR is exploring its options.

"That's what we're working on — working on how far can we go," he said. "If there's more we can do to disassociate ourselves with that flag at our events than we've already done, then we want to do it. We are going to be as aggressive as we can to disassociate ourselves with that flag."

The flag issue was heightened last week after nine black churchgoers were slain in Charleston, South Carolina. The suspect in the case, Dylann Roof, embraced Confederate symbols before the attack, posing with the rebel battle flag. That revelation prompted a reappraisal of the role such symbols play in the South.

In 2012, NASCAR banned pro golfer Bubba Watson's plan to drive the "General Lee," the car from the television series "The Dukes of Hazzard," at Phoenix International Raceway over concerns about a negative reaction to an image of the Confederate flag on its roof.

France admitted the Charleston church shooting has pushed the sport to find a way to take a tougher stance. Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon, two of NASCAR's biggest stars, on Friday backed NASCAR's efforts.

Brad Daugherty, the lone black Sprint Cup Series team owner in NASCAR, told SiruisXM NASCAR Radio this week that seeing the Confederate flag at races "does make my skin crawl." On Saturday, JTG Daugherty Racing won the first pole in team history when AJ Allmendinger qualified first for Sunday's race at Sonoma Raceway,

NASCAR Chairman: Ban Confederate Flag At Races

I applaud NASCAR officials for ridding the sport of this racist white supremacist symbol.

 

[DarkFury]

They CAN'T ban fans from having them. Unless they want to go broke.

 

[bucs90]

Wow.

The Confederate Flag is soon gonna be as taboo as the Nazi flag.

 

[DarkFury]

Wow.

The Confederate Flag is soon gonna be as taboo as the Nazi flag.

They will go after states flags next. ANYTHING tied to OLD America.
My birth state has George Washington on its flag and he was a slave owner so liberals are whining.

 

[Lakhota]

Another sad day for racist cracker peckerwoods.

 

[bucs90]

They're definitely on a full throttle social attack on the South. I think they see the entire region as a cancer to their dream liberal utopia.

Our low taxes. Gun rights. Non union labor. Booming economy. Relative racial harmony compared to the massive urban centers up North and West. Our RELIGION. How much we love the violent game of football which lefties are growing to hate.

The left hates everything about the South.

 

[bucs90]

Another sad day for racist cracker peckerwoods.

Well...I dont care because the flag isnt ananything I care about.

But...by trying to ban it and banish it fro society...you lefties are only making that flag more powerful.

 

[Mr. H.]

Another sad day for racist cracker peckerwoods.

Why did Native Americans serve in the military of a racist cracker peckerwood government?

 

[Lakhota]

 

[Lakhota]

Another sad day for racist cracker peckerwoods.

Why did Native Americans serve in the military of a racist cracker peckerwood government?

Try to focus on thread topic, sparky.

 

[Lakhota]

Another sad day for racist cracker peckerwoods.

Well...I dont care because the flag isnt ananything I care about.

But...by trying to ban it and banish it fro society...you lefties are only making that flag more powerful.

More powerful to whom...? Old white cracker peckerwoods are dying off.

 

[Mr. H.]

Another sad day for racist cracker peckerwoods.

Why did Native Americans serve in the military of a racist cracker peckerwood government?

Try to focus on thread topic, sparky.

I'm simply following one off-topic comment with another, hater dupe.

 

[bucs90]

Another sad day for racist cracker peckerwoods.

Well...I dont care because the flag isnt ananything I care about.

But...by trying to ban it and banish it fro society...you lefties are only making that flag more powerful.

More powerful to whom...? Old white cracker peckerwoods are dying off.

To everyone.

This hysteria over it did nothing but.....

- Make those who love it love it more
- Make those who hate it..hate it more

Its now a more powerful reaction...whichever way you react.

 

[Wake]

Yet more shifting and posturing.

 

[Pogo]

Earlier this week, NASCAR said it backed South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's call to remove the Confederate flag from state capitol grounds, and noted that it bars the flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity.

But banning it on race track property is a much larger task for NASCAR, which began as a Southern sport and many of its fans still embrace the flag. It flies atop campers and at camp sites at many races as fans spend entire weekends in either the infield or surrounding areas of track property.

The size of the crowd, and NASCAR's own acknowledgment that fans have a right to freedom of expression, would make it difficult to police the presence of the flag.

This is the inevitable conundrum of ignoring the fact that it's not just a racial or political symbol but a cultural symbol.

You can't ban or legislate culture. Try to do that and its proponents who were only marginally interested suddenly get more interested. And rightly so.

 

[Ernie S.]

Wendell Scott 1961-1973

Wendell Scott became the very first African-American to start a NASCAR race when he took the green flag on March 4th, 1961 in Spartanberg, SC.

Unfortunately, Wendell had engine problems that day and did not finish.

Not only was Wendell Scott the first and most prolific of all African-Americans in the sport but also the most successful. Scott went on to start a total of 495 races in NASCAR's top series from 1961 through 1973. Wendell is also the only African-American to date to score a win. On December 1st 1963 he took the checkered flag first at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, FL.

Wendell Scott also managed four consecutive top ten points finishes. Scott finished no worse than tenth in the final standings from 1966 to 1969.

Willy T. Ribbs 1986

There were no African-Americans in NASCAR from 1973 until Willy T. Ribbs started three races in 1986. Willy's first race was at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 20th, 1986. That was the only race that he finished in his short career as he finished thirteen laps down in 22nd.

Willy T Ribbs started two more races that year for DiGard racing but he suffered engine failure in both of those races.

Bill Lester 2006-?

Bill Lester got one Busch Series start in 1999 but didn't land a full-time NASCAR ride right away. Lester started racing full-time in the NASCAR Truck series in 2002.

Bill Lester finally made his first NASCAR Sprint Cup series start in 2006 when Bill Davis put him in a car for the 2006 Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March.

Bill Lester is currently racing sports cars in the Rolex Grand Am series. There is no word as to Bill Lester's future in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing.

History of African-Americans in NASCAR

Darrell Wallace, Jr. (born October 8, 1993 in Mobile, Alabama), also known as Bubba Wallace, is an American stock car racing driver. He is currently driving the No. 6 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.[1] Previously Wallace was signed as a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing where Wallace competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 54 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Darrell Wallace Jr. - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

None? Hmmm LIAR!

 

[Lakhota]

Wendell Scott 1961-1973

Wendell Scott became the very first African-American to start a NASCAR race when he took the green flag on March 4th, 1961 in Spartanberg, SC.

Unfortunately, Wendell had engine problems that day and did not finish.

Not only was Wendell Scott the first and most prolific of all African-Americans in the sport but also the most successful. Scott went on to start a total of 495 races in NASCAR's top series from 1961 through 1973. Wendell is also the only African-American to date to score a win. On December 1st 1963 he took the checkered flag first at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, FL.

Wendell Scott also managed four consecutive top ten points finishes. Scott finished no worse than tenth in the final standings from 1966 to 1969.

Willy T. Ribbs 1986

There were no African-Americans in NASCAR from 1973 until Willy T. Ribbs started three races in 1986. Willy's first race was at North Wilkesboro Speedway on April 20th, 1986. That was the only race that he finished in his short career as he finished thirteen laps down in 22nd.

Willy T Ribbs started two more races that year for DiGard racing but he suffered engine failure in both of those races.

Bill Lester 2006-?

Bill Lester got one Busch Series start in 1999 but didn't land a full-time NASCAR ride right away. Lester started racing full-time in the NASCAR Truck series in 2002.

Bill Lester finally made his first NASCAR Sprint Cup series start in 2006 when Bill Davis put him in a car for the 2006 Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March.

Bill Lester is currently racing sports cars in the Rolex Grand Am series. There is no word as to Bill Lester's future in NASCAR Sprint Cup racing.

History of African-Americans in NASCAR

Darrell Wallace, Jr. (born October 8, 1993 in Mobile, Alabama), also known as Bubba Wallace, is an American stock car racing driver. He is currently driving the No. 6 Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.[1] Previously Wallace was signed as a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing where Wallace competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, driving the No. 54 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports.

Darrell Wallace Jr. - Wikipedia the free encyclopedia

None? Hmmm LIAR!

So, there were a few Uncle Toms.

 

[Lakhota]

If NASCAR dumps the white trash - who's left?

 

[Ernie S.]

OK Shitting Bull. Thanks for acknowledging you lied.

 

[Lakhota]

Earlier this week, NASCAR said it backed South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's call to remove the Confederate flag from state capitol grounds, and noted that it bars the flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity.

But banning it on race track property is a much larger task for NASCAR, which began as a Southern sport and many of its fans still embrace the flag. It flies atop campers and at camp sites at many races as fans spend entire weekends in either the infield or surrounding areas of track property.

The size of the crowd, and NASCAR's own acknowledgment that fans have a right to freedom of expression, would make it difficult to police the presence of the flag.

This is the inevitable conundrum of ignoring the fact that it's not just a racial or political symbol but a cultural symbol.

You can't ban or legislate culture. Try to do that and its proponents who were only marginally interested suddenly get more interested. And rightly so.

"Cultural symbol"? Owning people like property? That's really fucking hilarious! Thanks for the laugh.