Texas Motor Speedway supports NASCAR’s decision to ban Confederate flag
Texas Motor Speedway president Eddie Gossage applauded NASCAR’s decision to remove the Confederate flag at all race tracks on Wednesday evening.
“Texas Motor Speedway is, and always will be, a place where everyone is welcome and included,” Gossage said in a statement to the Star-Telegram. “The family atmosphere that exists in the motor sports industry is second to none. We support NASCAR in its position on the Confederate flag and will work together to remove it from our events and our sport.”
NASCAR made the announcement earlier Wednesday, saying: “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.”
The decision comes as the country is pushing for racial and social equality with protests from coast to coast. The movement arose following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died while in police custody in Minneapolis last month.
The Confederate flag issue has engulfed NASCAR for years. Former chairman Brian France tried to ban the flying of flags at race tracks in 2015, something that angered many fans.
Several fans at Texas Motor Speedway flew Confederate flags at races that year. At the time, fans pointed to the flag being about history and heritage, rather than race.
NASCAR is scheduled to run at Texas next month, July 18-19, as its rescheduled date for the postponed spring races. It’s unknown whether fans will be allowed to attend the race, although TMS is hopeful to welcome fans those days.
This story was originally published June 10, 2020 at 5:34 PM.
