NASCAR CEO no fan of Confederate flag; wants sport to appeal more to minorities, women

AP ^ | 10/6/5

[Crackingham]

NASCAR CEO Brian France doesn’t like fans flying Confederate flags at races as he tries to make auto racing more appealing to minorities and women.

“It’s not a flag that I look at with anything favorable. That’s for sure,” he said in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” to be aired Sunday. “I can’t tell people what flag to fly. I can tell you the flag we get behind: It’s the American flag.”

France is trying to broaden auto racing’s appeal with minorities in places like Los Angeles, where France moved the important Labor Day NASCAR event last year, and New York, soon to have a track.

“(Reaching out to minorities) is something I work on every day. I work on it personally,” France said.

Among those efforts France counts running a NASCAR event in Mexico and establishing a training program for female and minority drivers. And he doesn’t believe the racial stereotypes associated with the Confederate flag will affect NASCAR.

“I think it’s a fading image,” France said.

[cripplecreek]

They're already losing some of the best drivers. The older drivers like Martin and Wallace are still on the top of their game but are worn out from the endless travel.

The heritage and skill tracks are being tossed overboard for California (MIS II) Vegas, Ft Worth etc. Personally I wish they would go back to two races at Rockingham, and Darlington and return to North Wilksboro.

[Rebelbase]

NASCAR has a CEO with the last name of France? How far removed from NASCAR's roots can that be?

[Stand W]

"He is going to kill the goose that laid the golden egg."

I question whether he really is going to pursue this strategy. Part of me thinks he naturally felt he had to say these goo-goo feel goodisms on "60 Minutes".

Can you imagine the media firestorm if he said, "We're cool with our mainly white, male, Christian base (who afterall made NASCAR what it is) and the Confederate flag is a source of pride for us".

Reply form MSM: Get a rope! Dirka Dirka Jihad!

[Moose4]

It already has. They run two weekends a year in Loudon, NH and they pack the place, 100,000+ people both races.

This is no surprise. NASCAR's been leaving the Southern base behind for years. Ask the folks in North Wilkesboro, NC, or Rockingham, NC, or Darlington, SC. North Wilkesboro and Rockingham have been dumped off the schedule entirely for other tracks; Darlington lost the Labor Day race it had for fifty years to California and will probably lose its other race inside of two years. It's all about the money. Chicagoland, Texas, California, Kansas City, Homestead...they've been expanding to "non-traditional" locations aggressively, and it's worked beyond their wildest dreams.

}:-)4

[Liberty Ship]

Maybe he could make all the drivers hang fuzzy dice off the rear view mirrors and put Crown Royal air fresheners on the back deck. Oh...and a "Baby On Board" sign with a Disney sun shield in the window behind the driver...

[reformedliberal]

There is already a lot of merchandise. I am not a fan, but I know women who are. Their husbands and boyfriends buy them the merchandise. Make it a wussy sport and those poor guys will no longer be proud to buy the plethora of stuff for their ladies.

I know one woman whose entire life is either NASCAR or Packers merchandise. I doubt she purchased one item.

I don't think the stuff is cheap, either.....I don't know for certain, though.

This CEO may just move in a more rarefied world than his customers. It isn't a shy demographic, so I wouldn't be surprised to read about a fan revolt in response.

[sure_fine]

plate races are just a crash show

[cripplecreek]

"NASCAR has a CEO with the last name of France? How far removed from NASCAR's roots can that be?"


Not very since they guy who started it was Bill France.

[RckyRaCoCo]

NASCAR's going hollywood and way too commercial. To use his words "I think it’s a fading image"

[rockrr]

With a name like France you know it's gotta be whack...

[ovrtaxt]

Cmon, rdb3. You know you want this look!

Just ribbin' ya...

[Stopislamnow]

justdamn!

You're right! I dunno!

BTW they closed Pikes Peak Raceway a week or two ago. For good.

[Rebelbase]

Just seems out of place for a redneck beginning.

[rdb3]

NASCAR could add 4 more races at Loudon and it still would be impossible to get a ticket.

Loudon, Tennessee? If so, a very nice gentleman I used to work with hails from there.

If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!

[ovrtaxt]

People I know who are into racing are going back to the local tracks, some of them dirt.

I'll take a schoolbus figure 8 race on a Saturday night over a Nascar event anyday! (Boat trailer figure 8s are also quite a hoot.)

I've often said, when Nascar starts running figure 8s, I'll buy a ticket.

[G.Mason]

Simple solution. Ban all Confederate flags. We certainly don't need no stinking free speech!

While you're on the subject Frenchy, don't they have that mind reading/erasing machine working yet?

[rdb3]

Man, what are you talking about? My wheelchair has a hot tub on the back, 22" rims, hydraulics so I can go front, back, and side-to-side, and a wetbar. And I don't even drink! ;-)

If you want a Google GMail account, FReepmail me.
They're going fast!

[Bar-Face]

France is changing the NASCAR. I don't know if it is for the best though. Many of his decisions (and some of his father's before him) are turning away the ones that have supported the sport from the beginning.
This is just one more. But he has expanded the fan base. We now have NASCAR races from sea to shining sea and border to past the border. NASCAR now HAS "playoffs". NASCAR has bigger salaries, bigger pay outs and more and better sponsors.
But NASCAR also has boring races. Like the stick and ball sports, it has turned into a rich mans club. Four teams dominate the sport, bypassing the rules that only allows an owner to field a two car team. It is becoming more and more like the IRL or CHAMP car series. Only difference being the cars are bigger and enclosed.
Maybe someone out there will start a series for STOCK CARS. They could run them at the tracks NASCAR decided were just too small or not good enough for them.

[cripplecreek]

I think they should have a wider split between Nextel cup and the Busch series. They shouldn't be racing on the same tracks most of the time.

[ovrtaxt]

Cool. I'm flying to detriot for the party!

(hot tub on the back-lol!!)