Now it's just glorified indistinguishable slot cars. Give me the the days of Olds Rockets, Hudson Hornets, Chrysler 300's etc.
Posted on 06/11/2020 7:01:46 AM PDT by yardboyd
NASCAR on Wednesday said it is banning the display of the Confederate flag at all events and properties of the auto racing giant.
The decision comes more than two weeks after a black man, George Floyd, died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
The incident ignited protests nationwide, and demands that symbols of the Confederacy be removed from public places.
Auto racing giant NASCAR said Wednesday that it is banning the display of the Confederate flag at all of its events and properties.
The announcement is sure to be controversial with a number of NASCAR fans, some of whom continue to display Confederate flags and symbols at racing events even five years after the organization asked fans not to do so.
Also Wednesday, NASCAR removed its rule mandating that racing team members stand for the national anthem.
NASCAR’s new outright ban on the Confederate flag comes more than two weeks after a black man, George Floyd, died when a white Minneapolis police officer named Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, even after Floyd repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.”
The incident ignited protests nationwide. It also triggered demands for the removal from public places of symbols of the Confederacy, the group of Southern states that started the Civil War in 1861 by seceding from the United States in a doomed, bloody effort to save the institution of enslaving black people.
“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 prepared statement that was issued before its race Wednesday night at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.
“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.”
It is not clear how NASCAR plans to enforce the ban.
On Sunday, Bubba Wallace, the only black full-time driver on the NASCAR circuit, wore a shirt bearing the words “I Can’t Breathe/Black Lives Matter” before a race in Atlanta.
“My next step would be to get rid of all Confederate flags,” Wallace said in a CNN interview the following day.
“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.”
Wallace also said, “There’s going to be a lot of angry people that carry those flags proudly but it’s time for change.”
“We have to change that, and I encourage NASCAR to have those conversations to remove those flags.”
Before Sunday’s race in Atlanta, the 40 cars on the track stopped in front of grandstands and shut off their engines.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps delivered a message over driver’s radio sets.
“Our country is in pain and people are justifiably angry, demanding to be heard,” Phelps said. “The black community and all people of color have suffered in our country, and it has taken far too long for us to hear their demands for change. Our sport must do better. Our country must do better.”
“The time is now to listen, to understand and to stand against racism and racial injustice,” Phelps said. “We ask our drivers, our competitors and all our fans to join us in this mission, to take a moment of reflection, to acknowledge that we must do better as a sport, and join us as we now pause and take a moment to listen.”
It had been common for decades at NASCAR events, particularly in the South, for Confederate flags to be displayed by fans. But in 2015, on the heels of the slaughter in Charleston, South Carolina, of nine black churchgoers by a racist named Dylan Roof, NASCAR asked that fans not display the Confederate flag at races.
Many fans have ignored that request.
NASCAR on Wednesday said it is banning the display of the Confederate flag at all events and properties of the auto racing giant. The decision comes more than two weeks after a black man, George Floyd, died after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. The incident ignited protests nationwide, and demands that symbols of the Confederacy be removed from public places.
Confederate flags are seen flying over the infield campground prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 6, 2015 in Darlington, South Carolina. Confederate flags are seen flying over the infield campground prior to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway on September 6, 2015 in Darlington, South Carolina. Jerry Markland | Getty Images
Auto racing giant NASCAR said Wednesday that it is banning the display of the Confederate flag at all of its events and properties.
The announcement is sure to be controversial with a number of NASCAR fans, some of whom continue to display Confederate flags and symbols at racing events even five years after the organization asked fans not to do so.
Also Wednesday, NASCAR removed its rule mandating that racing team members stand for the national anthem.
NASCAR’s new outright ban on the Confederate flag comes more than two weeks after a black man, George Floyd, died when a white Minneapolis police officer named Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, even after Floyd repeatedly said, “I can’t breathe.”
The incident ignited protests nationwide. It also triggered demands for the removal from public places of symbols of the Confederacy, the group of Southern states that started the Civil War in 1861 by seceding from the United States in a doomed, bloody effort to save the institution of enslaving black people.
Why NASCAR has a great opportunity to attract a new audience by being one of the first U.S. sports to resume live events
“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 prepared statement that was issued before its race Wednesday night at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.
“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.”
It is not clear how NASCAR plans to enforce the ban.
On Sunday, Bubba Wallace, the only black full-time driver on the NASCAR circuit, wore a shirt bearing the words “I Can’t Breathe/Black Lives Matter” before a race in Atlanta.
“My next step would be to get rid of all Confederate flags,” Wallace said in a CNN interview the following day.
“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.”
Wallace also said, “There’s going to be a lot of angry people that carry those flags proudly but it’s time for change.”
Before Sunday’s race in Atlanta, the 40 cars on the track stopped in front of grandstands and shut off their engines.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps delivered a message over driver’s radio sets.
“Our country is in pain and people are justifiably angry, demanding to be heard,” Phelps said. “The black community and all people of color have suffered in our country, and it has taken far too long for us to hear their demands for change. Our sport must do better. Our country must do better.”
“The time is now to listen, to understand and to stand against racism and racial injustice,” Phelps said. “We ask our drivers, our competitors and all our fans to join us in this mission, to take a moment of reflection, to acknowledge that we must do better as a sport, and join us as we now pause and take a moment to listen.”
It had been common for decades at NASCAR events, particularly in the South, for Confederate flags to be displayed by fans. But in 2015, on the heels of the slaughter in Charleston, South Carolina, of nine black churchgoers by a racist named Dylan Roof, NASCAR asked that fans not display the Confederate flag at races.
Many fans have ignored that request.
Earlier Wednesday, President Donald Trump said that he will not allow the names of U.S. Army bases that are named after generals who fought for slave-holding states of the Confederacy in the Civil War to be changed.
On the same day, Trump’s top economic advisor Larry Kudlow said he does not believe that systemic racism exists in the United States.
NBC News reported Wednesday that Democrats in the House and Senate plan to reintroduce in both of those chambers of Congress a bill that would remove from the U.S. Capitol the statues of those who voluntarily served in the Confederacy.
“That’s a damned lie! The war was over states’ rights”
Funny, I remember have discussions with black coworkers about all the whites that died to free slaves and if that was not enough in reparations. The response was always “they did not fight and die for slaves, the fought over states rights.” And yet the confederate flag represents slavery. How do you square that in your own mind? The north gets no credit for fighting to free slaves and yet the south is vilified for fighting for slavery.
Slavery is a horrible thing. Many groups have been slaves; Jews, Christians, Blacks,... But it ended over 150 years ago in America. No slaves are alive, no children of slaves are alive, no grand children, and I doubt any great grand children are alive. But some want to cling to it. Not sure why.
I never liked NASCAR. The cars go round and round and round and round and round. Real exciting. People just want to see the crashes. That’s why I like the demo derby.
For Community Outreach NASCAR can have their pit crews teach kids in the hood how to get your tires off faster.
LOL
well, since white is a color... they also are including white people in their “all people of color have suffering in our country...”
I hope fans and racers quit the sport on principle alone just like they did with NFL’s kneeling debacle.
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BYE BYE, NASCAR!
Hubba hubba.
“Is that why George Floyd died at the hands (or knees) of a police officer?”
A YANKEE police officer at that.
Why doesn’t NASCAR ban Democrats? They gave us the confederate flag, civil war, segregation, Ku Klux Klan, etc.???
Yep, look at that mass of people in line... To leave? Eh, who needs them, bunch of racists...which we wouldn't allow to attend the races anyway because of COVID.
The virtue signaling has companies and organizations tripping over themselves to out do everyone else in showing how progressive they are. Which of course begets more virtue signalling.
Can't wait for NASCAR to announce: ‘Please take a knee for the national anthem. Anyone standing will be escorted from the property.’
Nascar driver is quitting.
NASCAR fans quitting also.
And remember, last year I think, when NASCAR invited the President to be the featured guest at one of their big races? Daytona I think.
Banning this American flag is just another finger in the wind for this rudderless, leaderless, meaningless “stock car” enterprise.
They have no past. And they have no future.
i’m guessing this is out too...
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Is that for real? If so, is it a flag, a poster, or a decal? If I could find a source for it, I’d buy a bunch and plaster them all over my neck of the woods!
Just another reason I will continue to not watch NASCAR.
War started in 1861. Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
Rebel flag was the battle flag, not the flag of the Confederate States.
Giving in to the fundamental lie.
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Absolutely correct.
This is full on surrender.
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Absolutely correct.
It is black criminal culture that needs to change, not the country.
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And absolutely correct again. A perfect trifecta!
This is a free speech issue and it is almost certain that someone will challenge this in court. In spite of all the BS, I for one still think the first amendment stands.
NASCAR stopped being NASCAR many years ago when it went to everyone has to be the same. NASCAR started with rum runner cars all hopping up their cars to compete.
Give me a redneck girl.
Now it's just glorified indistinguishable slot cars. Give me the the days of Olds Rockets, Hudson Hornets, Chrysler 300's etc.
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