Many race fans display the Confederate flag at campgrounds near NASCAR tracksGETTY IMAGES
Upholding the ban of Confederate flags at all of its events and properties is "going to need to come not just from NASCAR," but from the "full-throated support of NASCAR drivers who hold far more sway over fans," according to Dan Wetzel of YAHOO SPORTS. Banning the flags is a "step, but this move will require security patrolling the infield or campgrounds around the track and seizing flags." NASCAR races "aren’t three hours inside an arena where you have to pass through security, like the NBA or NFL." It is "often a three-day weekend." As such, if NASCAR and Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace "want the flag gone, the best way is to make it socially unacceptable to bring it in the first place." The NBA "doesn’t have to seize Confederate flags because no one brings them to games in the first place." Wetzel wondered, "Can NASCAR get there?" If so, it "would be a long process and have little to do with NASCAR itself and a lot to do with Wallace’s fellow drivers," for it is the drivers who "connect with the fans." It is the drivers who "influence the fans" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 6/10). Wallace noted there were "a lot of first-time watchers" for last night's race, which was "super incredible, a lot from the African-American community that would never give NASCAR a chance.” Wallace: “Hopefully, that's for the future, as well" (“Today,” NBC, 6/11)
IS IT ACHIEVABLE? USA TODAY's Dan Wolken writes one "can argue that NASCAR’s move to ban the 'stars and bars' will only cause more rebellion among those who build their weekends around showing up at the racetrack," and that the ban "will be impossible to enforce given the expansive grandstands and the tens of thousands who park their RVs on the infield." Many will say that NASCAR’s "good intentions are doomed to fail." Wolken: "The bottom line for NASCAR ... is that the country is in the midst of one of the most significant shifts on race that we’ve seen in most of our lifetimes. But NASCAR isn’t a museum, it’s a sport. And on race day, it’s a sport that invests more time and pageantry honoring America than anyone" (USA TODAY, 6/11). NBC’s Craig Melvin: “It's difficult to understate the significance of what they've done, and the speed with which they've done it.” This “will probably help NASCAR mainstream the sport, something that they've been trying to do for a number of years." It is "difficult to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable going to a NASCAR race when you walk into the track and you see the Confederate flag flying everywhere," so this "goes a long way” (“Today,” NBC, 6/11).
RAPID REAX: ESPN.com's Ryan McGee wrote this is the "culmination of a one-man campaign by Wallace, who this week appeared across major news outlets and called for NASCAR to finally do what it has wanted to for years." McGee: "Now it finally is" (ESPN.com, 6/10). In L.A., Dylan Hernandez wrote NASCAR's statement was "lathered in corporate speak," but it was "progress -- small but certain progress" (L.A. TIMES, 6/11). In DC, Clarke & Bieler write for NASCAR, this is a "stunning step." But "it was time -- long past time, actually -- for the Confederate flag to be completely banned from all NASCAR tracks. Period. No exceptions" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/11). ABC’s Robin Roberts called NASCAR’s ban a “seismic shift” for the sport ("GMA," ABC, 6/11). ESPN’s Marty Smith said, “It cannot be overstated what a historic day this is for NASCAR, the industry, and the fanbase. It’s a long time coming" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 6/11).
