More than any other sport in America, NASCAR has its roots tied to one distinct characteristic: white Southern culture. Unlike the international, and arguably more sophisticated, appeal of Formula 1 and IndyCar open wheel racing, stock car racing was born on the backs of bootleggers and moonshine makers on the dirt fields and back roads of the Rural South.
Because of its origins, NASCAR has long been derided and stereotyped as the sport of hillbillies and rednecks, a culture that defiantly revels in its tradition, rebellion, and Southern pride. (A common joke about auto racing fans is, “Is it called NASCAR because that’s how a hillbilly pronounces ‘nice car’?”)
With that pride, however, comes a strong allegiance to the Confederate flag, a disruptive issue that NASCAR has often treated with kid gloves, despite widespread criticism. As debate over the flag’s meaning and appropriateness continues to rage in the wake of last month’s mass shooting by a 21-year-old white man at a predominantly black church in Charleston, South Carolina, the racing league is once again confronted with its history. to adopt a symbol and a culture that many consider racist.
NASCAR should prove it is colorblind and ban the Confederate flag from racetracks
When watching or attending a NASCAR race, it would be difficult to say that the sanctioning body does not support the flag’s traditions. On any race day at a track, you’ll find fans boastfully waving their Rebel banners right next to the American flag and the NASCAR logo. The Confederate flag is boldly decorated on tents, T-shirts, hats and tattoos without a moment’s hesitation or regret; it can easily be seen on television during a race broadcast, flying from the tops of trailers and barbecues in the infield. It has long been a source of contention for NASCAR’s sanctioning body, which, due to declining attendance and ratings, has desperately tried to avoid the negative attention generated by its often all-white and separatist image. In 2004, NASCAR President Brian France implemented the Drive for Diversity program, which aims to attract minorities and women across all platforms, including Driversowners, sponsors, crew members and fans.
“If we don’t achieve good diversity, this sport will not achieve what it needs to achieve from a popularity point of view,” France said in 2007 of the initiative.
Nonetheless, NASCAR continues to struggle with diversity and its efforts to encourage minorities to embrace the sport. Eleven years after the program’s launch, Drive for Diversity’s overall impact has been minimal on the track, with Japanese American Kyle Larson, biracial Darrell Wallace Jr. and Mexican Daniel Suarez as the program’s only drivers. to compete in either XFinity or XFinity. Sprint Cup Series. In the sport’s 67-year history, only three African-American drivers have reached NASCAR’s top series, the most recent being Bill Lester in 2006, and only three African-Americans have owned racing teams, two of them are former NBA forward Brad Daugherty and former NFL wide receiver Randy Moss. Although it could be argued that driving a race car simply isn’t appealing enough to captivate the average sports fan and few athletes would chomp at the thought of being able to go around in circles in a car at 120 degrees for countless hours, one has to wonder whether more minorities would flock to the sport if better efforts were made to steer it away from these incendiary roots.
Daugherty, co-owner of NASCAR’s JTG Daugherty Racing, spoke out on the issue last week on SiruisXM NASCAR Radio, revealing how he believes the flag undoubtedly represents hatred. “Being an African American going to the racetrack and seeing the Confederate flag, it gives me goosebumps,” Daugherty said. “Even though I try my best not to recognize it or pay attention to it, it’s there and it bothers me because of what it represents.”
On June 23, NASCAR released a statement saying it supported South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s call to remove the Confederate flag from the state park, while noting that the race track does not does not allow the flag on anything it sanctions, including merchandise.
“NASCAR will maintain its long-standing policy prohibiting the use of the Confederate flag in any official position at our events,” France said. “In all areas controlled by NASCAR on a given race weekend, the flag is not present.”
Additionally, the sport’s 30 national touring circuits urged fans to leave their rebel banners at home. Daytona officials even waved their own white flag before last weekend’s Coke Zero 400, announcement of an exchange program for fans who wanted to trade their Confederate flag for an American flag. Sprint Cup Drivers Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. both have spoken out publicly in support of NASCAR’s position. “This has no place on any of our team clothing or memorabilia or anything like that,” Gordon said last Tuesday. CBS This Morning. “I’m glad it’s not over there.”
Yet these statements never amounted to a call for an outright ban, despite widespread condemnation across the sport. And with South Carolina officially removing the flag from the state capitol on July 10, will there still be that long-standing hesitation on NASCAR’s part for a clean break? Why cut ties with Donald Trump’s National Doral Miami complex, host of NASCAR playoff awards banquets, after his comments about Mexican immigrants, while continuing to allow a symbol at races that remains toxic and offensive for many ?
The answer is simple: money. With many empty seats at many of its tracks (Charlotte, Dover and Atlanta Speedways have all cut up to 17,000 each in the past year due to declining ticket sales) and TV ratings continue To decline, NASCAR believes it cannot afford to enter into a public feud over race and culture with its legions of Southern fans who account for more than 80 percent of its revenue and popularity. France therefore took the easy way out and straddled both sides of the fence so as not to ruffle too many feathers or appear insensitive.
Nonetheless, many fans still felt offended and betrayed by what they saw as an unfair rebuke and NASCAR’s unnecessary attempt at political correctness. Although the main story of Coke Zero 400 is driver Austin DillonAfter ‘s grisly crash during the final lap that sent him flying into the fence and his car into several spectators, the backdrop of the event was one of defiance and support for the flag. The Confederate symbol flew proudly during the race, along with slogans such as “The South Will Rise Again” and “Southern Thunder.”
John Wilson, originally from Dunnellon, Florida, said USA Today Sports, “I think it’s (the flag) that’s being criticized. Anyone can fly their flag in the United States of America and have their heritage. Why can’t I have mine?
This massive show of support for the flag is just the beginning. A potential PR disaster is brewing as NASCAR heads to Darlington, South Carolina, over Labor Day weekend for VFW Sports Clips Help A Hero 200 Xfinity Series and the Southern 500 of Bojangles of the Sprint Cup. While many flag supporters in South Carolina are still reeling from the decision to remove it from the state capitol, you can bet a bottle of moonshine that they will show up in droves at Darlington Raceway with signs of the Confederacy everywhere, once again mocking NASCAR’s calls to leave both the flag and politics at home.
So what do you say, Brian France? How long will you let this controversy fester before taking real action? For many, the question is not whether fans have the right to celebrate their heritage and loyalty to the flag at races, but rather whether NASCAR has the courage to take a definitive stand on such an alienating issue , either way.
