No more Confederate flags at NASCAR races, the motorsports organization announces
Historic change is sweeping through NASCAR, the sport born, nurtured and beloved in America’s South long before it spread in popularity across the nation.
No more Confederate flags.
On most race days you could usually spot more than a few among spectators’ cars and RVs. Those days are over, per a decree from NASCAR and its president, Steve Phelps. Not long before a race was to begin Wednesday evening, NASCAR released the following statement:
“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. 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.”
Some drivers have come out in support of the change, denouncing racial injustice in the process.
“I think we have to continue to listen and use our platform as a way to start conversations for real change so that we can all grow in a positive direction,” driver William Byron told The Star this week.
Ongoing nationwide protests against racial inequality and police brutality have swelled in the wake of George Floyd’s May 25 death at the hands of Minneapolis officers.
NASCAR’s decision to ban the rebel flag at its events comes amid an upswell of support for the Black Lives Matter movement across all facets of society. For Wednesday night’s race, for instance, Bubba Wallace’s No. 43 car was emblazoned with #BlackLivesMatter signage at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia.
“I think it’s going to speak volumes for what I stand for,” Wallace said in a Twitter video. “We knew the Martinsville race was open, we did not sell sponsorship for that, and it sparked an idea of, why not run a #blackout car?”
Byron, whose last trip Kansas Speedway came during the 2019 NASCAR Cup playoffs, talked this week of learning during this time of historic change.
“I personally can continue to educate myself from those that know more than me and listen to what they have to say,” he said.
NASCAR will return to Kansas Speedway in July for several races, including the July 23 Kansas 400 as part of a rescheduled May weekend. Byron is excited to get back to the Midwest next month — even if it figures to be downright scorching and plenty humid in spite of the fact that the marquee race starts in the early evening.
For now, plans call for empty stands during the Kansas Speedway races. But a couple of other NASCAR-owned tracks announced this week that they will allow a limited number of spectators at races scheduled for later this month.
If the no-fans approach at Kansas Speedway changes in the coming month, drivers like Byron probably wouldn’t mind a bit.
“It definitely takes away from the atmosphere in the buildup and around race weekend,” Byron said of racing in front of empty seats.
All NASCAR racing was postponed in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Racing resumed this month.
Byron has picked up just one top-10 finish this year, in the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Tennessee’s Bristol Motor Speedway. He finished 33rd in the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, where he fought his way into the top 15 only to suffer a flat; he had to pit for tires.
Byron is hoping to come to Kansas City on an upswing.
“We’ve just got to cut out the mistakes,” he said.
All five Kansas Speedway races scheduled for July will be televised nationally on NBCSN or FS1. Here’s the schedule:
- Thursday, July 23: NASCAR Cup Series Kansas 400, 6:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
- Friday, July 24: NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Kansas 200, 6 p.m. (FS1)
- Friday, July 24: ARCA Menards Series Kansas 150, 9 p.m. (FS1)
- Saturday, July 25: NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series Kansas 200, 12:30 p.m. (FS1)
- Saturday, July 25: NASCAR Xfinity Series Kansas 250, 4 p.m. (NBCSN)
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 6:13 PM.