Author Topic: NASCAR tracks unite, ask fans not to fly Confederate flag  (Read 553 times)

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NASCAR tracks unite, ask fans not to fly Confederate flag
« on: July 04, 2015, 02:16:36 pm »
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2015/07/02/nascar-tracks-unite-ask-fans-not-to-fly-confederate-flag/


Published July 02, 2015Associated Press



NASCAR's national series tracks announced Thursday that they are asking fans to refrain from displaying the Confederate flag at races following the deadly attack at a South Carolina church two weeks ago.

The facilities vowed to have the most "welcoming environments in all of sports and entertainment."

The statement was signed by International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc. — which own most of the tracks in the Sprint Cup Series, stretching from Florida to New York to California — as well as 30 specific tracks. It also includes independent tracks such as Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, Pocono Raceway and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

"We are asking our fans and partners to join us in a renewed effort to create an all-inclusive, even more welcoming atmosphere for all who attend our events," the statement read. "This will include the request to refrain from displaying the Confederate flag at our facilities and NASCAR events."

The move follows NASCAR's statement last week reiterating that the flag is banned from official use at its events. And it comes ahead of Sunday's race at Daytona International Speedway — the first in the South since the mid-June attack that left nine black churchgoers dead in Charleston. The suspect had embraced Confederate symbols, including the battle flag.

Daytona is planning to hold a voluntary exchange program this weekend in which fans can swap any flag of their choice for an American flag.

"We want to be inclusive to everyone, and the last thing you want is for anyone to come to a sporting event and really not enjoy that experience because of symbols that really represent things we're not proud of," track President Joie Chitwood said. "Going forward, we'll really have to look at where that other flag goes, because it doesn't have a place in our sport and we've got to take a thoughtful process on how we get to that place."

ISC, a sister company of NASCAR, owns 13 facilities that signed the statement. SMI, the Bruton Smith-owned rival to ISC, had its eight properties listed as supporting NASCAR. Indianapolis Motor Speedway was among the independents taking part.

Drivers including Dale Earnhardt Jr. have been outspoken against the flag. NASCAR Chairman Brian France last week called the flag a symbol he finds offensive and said he wants to be as aggressive as possible in barring it from sanctioned events.

France said he was unsure what steps track promoters can legally take to prohibit the flag and acknowledged that enforcing a ban would be challenging when it comes to tens of thousands of fans on the sprawling properties. France stressed that the flag, while part of NASCAR's roots as a series for old bootleggers, is not indicative of what the sport represents and he had hinted that the series was working with the industry on options.

"Obviously, we have our roots in the South, there are events in the South, it's part of our history like it is for the country," France told The Associated Press. "But it needs to be just that, part of our history. It isn't part of our future."
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Offline mountaineer

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Re: NASCAR tracks unite, ask fans not to fly Confederate flag
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2015, 01:14:59 am »
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France said he was unsure what steps track promoters can legally take to prohibit the flag and acknowledged that enforcing a ban would be challenging when it comes to tens of thousands of fans on the sprawling properties.
Before now, I never had the slightest interest in NASCAR or in displaying the Confederate battle flag, but now I'm tempted to paint it on a T-shirt and wear it to a race just to see what they'll do.
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Re: NASCAR tracks unite, ask fans not to fly Confederate flag
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2015, 05:38:50 am »
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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Steven Rebenstorf has numerous flags flying atop his canopy tent inside Daytona International Speedway.

The Confederate flag is front and center.

It's been like that for years. And the 57-year-old Rebenstorf has no plans to take it down — not even if NASCAR decides to ban the embattled flag from its racetracks.

"They'd have to come and get it," Rebenstorf said Saturday, pointing out that his American flag purposely flies a few inches higher than the rest.

Rebenstorf and others staunchly defended their Confederate flags at NASCAR's first race in the South since the racing series and its tracks urged fans to no longer wave the banner. Dozens were scattered throughout the vast infield all weekend leading to Sunday's race.

"It kills me that NASCAR is jumping on the bandwagon," said 55-year-old Paul Stevens of nearby Port Orange. "They should just let it pass, let everything die down. But NASCAR is too quick to try to be politically correct like everybody else."

NASCAR took a stance on the Confederate flag after last month's South Carolina church massacre. It backed Gov. Nikki Haley's call to remove it from the Statehouse grounds and noted it doesn't allow the flag on anything it sanctions. The series stopped short of banning fans from displaying the flag at its events, but Daytona and 29 other tracks asked fans to refrain from flying them.

Not everyone obliged. Daytona also offered to exchange Confederate flags for American flags this weekend, and track officials said a few made the swap Sunday morning.

"I think the voluntary exchange program for us right now was appropriate with the limited window that we had coming into this event weekend," track president Joie Chitwood said. "And more importantly, I think it's important to trust our fans, asking our fans to display a flag that we should all be proud of. Everybody should be proud of the American flag."

Indeed, the American flag is prominently displayed all around Daytona — no surprise given the Fourth of July holiday and the patriotism that NASCAR routinely promotes.

But spotting a Confederate flag is easier than finding a souvenir shop, restroom or beer stand.

The first motorhome located inside the Turn 4 tunnel has one flying high above it, and it doesn't take long to reach double figures when counting them on a stroll through the infield. They're on clothing, coolers and cars, and even tattooed on skin.

Larry Reeves of Jacksonville Beach has a tattered Confederate flag on top of his motorhome. He initially thought NASCAR was banning the banner and didn't display it this week. But once he saw some flying around him and asked a few questions, he realized it was voluntary and quickly sent his back up the pole.

"It's just a Southern pride thing," the 66-year-old Reeves said. "It's nothing racist or anything. I've been doing this for 30 years. My family is from Alabama and we've been going to Talladega forever. It isn't a Confederate thing so much as it is a NASCAR thing. That's why I fly it."

Like others at Daytona, Reeves believes the flag flap is much ado about nothing.

"It's not a big deal one way or the other," Reeves said. "If I can't fly it, I won't. But if I don't have to take it down, I'm just going to leave it up."

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/nascar-fans-defend-display-confederate-flags-daytona
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