NASCAR banned the Confederate flag from its races and venues on Wednesday, formally severing itself from what for many is a symbol of slavery and racism.
The move comes amid social unrest around the globe following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in Minneapolis while being detained by police. Protests have roiled the nation for days and Confederate monuments are being taken down across the South _ the traditional fan base for NASCAR.
Confederate flags have been a familiar sight at NASCAR races over its 72-year history, dotting the infield atop RVs or being waved by fans in the grandstands, though the stock car series with its roots in moonshine running has in recent years taken cautious steps to sever the connection.
The issue was pushed to the fore this week as Bubba Wallace, NASCAR's lone black driver, called for the banishment of the Confederate flag and said there was ``no place'' for them in the sport. At long last, NASCAR obliged.
``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. ``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.''
NASCAR said it would have no additional comment.
The move was announced before Wednesday night's race at Martinsville Speedway where Wallace, an Alabama native, was driving Richard Petty Motorsports' No. 43 Chevrolet with a (hash)BlackLivesMatter paint scheme. Wallace was praised for his stance on Twitter from several athletes, including NBA star LeBron James, and for using the scheme in the race.
Wallace, wearing an American flag mask, clapped his hands when asked about the decision before the start of the race on FS1.
``It's been a stressful couple of weeks,'' Wallace said. ``This is no doubt the biggest race of my career tonight. I'm excited about tonight. There's a lot of emotions on the race track.''
Wallace wore a black ``I Can't Breathe`` T-shirt but did not kneel during the national anthem.-AP
