As we continue to mourn the tragic loss of life last week in Charleston, we join our nation’s embrace of those impacted. NASCAR supports the position that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley took on the Confederate Flag on Monday. As our industry works collectively to ensure that all fans are welcome at our races, NASCAR will continue our long-standing policy to disallow the use of the Confederate Flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity. While NASCAR recognizes that freedom of expression is an inherent right of all citizens, we will continue to strive for an inclusive environment at our events.
NASCAR Supports Governor Haley’s Call To Remove Confederate Flag
Six days after the Charleston church shooting that took the lives of nine African-American churchgoers, NASCAR has issued a statement supporting Governor Nikki Haley’s call to remove the Confederate flag from South Carolina Statehouse grounds.
Despite being characterized as a southern sport, NASCAR actually had already banned the Confederate flag in all official capacities. NASCAR even refused to allow professional golfer Bubba Watson to drive his 1969 Dodge Challenger around Phoenix International Raceway before an event in 2012, because it featured the Confederate flag on its hood. Watson’s Challenger was the official car used on the TVshow Dukes of Hazzard. Watson bought the vehicle for $110,000 at an action and said he didn’t support the flag, but kept it on the hood because that’s how the vehicle was featured on the show.
One day ago, South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called for state legislators to pass a bill to remove the Confederate flag from South Carolina Statehouse grounds, after photos of the man suspected of committing the Charleston murders came to light of him posturing with the flag.”While an integral part of our past, (the Confederate flag) does not represent the future of our great state,” said Governor Haley.
President Obama will be traveling to Charleston on Friday to deliver the eulogy for Reverend Clementa C. Pinckney, who was among those killed in the shooting.
NASCAR currently only has one African-American driver, Darrell Wallace Jr., who competes in the INFINITY Series.
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.