Should NASCAR ban Confederate flags at races? Bubba Wallace, other drivers weigh in

Tadd Haislop

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Should NASCAR ban Confederate flags at races? Bubba Wallace, other drivers weigh in image

We already know how NASCAR feels about the Confederate flag. It has been disallowed by the sanctioning body as symbol in any official capacity, and in 2015, NASCAR publicly supported South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's decision to remove the flag from statehouse grounds in the wake of a racially charged mass shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston.

Now, according to Sports Business Daily, NASCAR is "actively considering changing its Confederate flag policy as calls grow for the series to permanently ban the symbol from its facilities."

From the NASCAR statement back in 2015 to which the sanctioning body still defers: "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."

For a sport that has condemned the flag but has not completely banned it from races, the key words are "inclusive environment." They're why Bubba Wallace among others would prefer if fans were not allowed to display Confederate flags while at tracks.

MORE: NASCAR drivers push for "real change" on racial issues

"My next step would be to get rid of all Confederate flags (at races)," Wallace said Monday night during an interview on CNN when asked about what NASCAR can do to battle racial injustice. "There should be no individual that is uncomfortable showing up to our events to have a good time with their family that feels some type of way about something they've seen, an object they have seen flying.

"No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race. So it starts with Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They have no place for them."

Wallace later admitted he has not always been bothered by the presence of fans' Confederate flags at NASCAR races, but he now understands their impact.

"Diving more into it and educating myself, people feel uncomfortable with that," Wallace said. "People talk about that. That's the first thing they bring up. So there's going to be a lot of angry people that carry those flags proudly, but it's time for change. We have to change that. I encourage NASCAR, and we will have those conversations."

Ryan Blaney, a fellow NASCAR Cup Series driver and a friend of Wallace's off the track, expressed a similar sentiment after Sunday's event at Atlanta Motor Speedway when asked about Confederate flags at races.

"It's tough, but I don't really enjoy it because sometimes I feel like the people that wave them mean the negative when they wave them, and that's not cool," Blaney said, via USA Today. "Yeah, I'd love to not see them at the race track, honestly, because it doesn't make everyone comfortable, so that's kind of where I stand on that. Bring your 50 stars flag; I think that would be way better."

Blaney's Team Penske teammate Brad Keselowski agreed with the condemnation of the Confederate flag but did not go as far as suggesting it be completely banned from NASCAR races.

"I recognize that that flag might mean something different to different people, but it doesn't mean United States of America to me," Keselowski said Sunday. "But I'm not gonna tell people they need to get rid of it. That's not my right either. But I certainly don't salute it or respect it or probably anyone else who feels the same way. But, at the end of the day, it's not our call."

Blaney and Keselowski were asked about the Confederate flag after a race that began with a powerful moment. Before a 30-second moment of silence, pre-race pace laps were paused, and all Cup Series crew members stood atop the wall on pit road as NASCAR president Steve Phelps delivered a message against racial injustice amid global protests in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police.

MORE: Wallace passes out during post-race interview

Wallace, the only black driver in NASCAR, wore a shirt that featured the words "I Can't Breathe" and "Black Lives Matter" as he stood on pit road during pre-race ceremonies. One of his crew members held up the same shirt during the moment of silence.

"NASCAR has stepped up to the plate big-time," Wallace said the next day on CNN. "The high-ups at NASCAR, every single one of them reached out. They have my utmost respect, and they give me their support in the direction we're heading."

Tadd Haislop

Tadd Haislop is the Associate NFL Editor at SportingNews.com.