NASCAR President Steve Phelps' willingness to "listen, and admit when he doesn’t know something, has allowed him to build trust among various groups whose interests often conflict with NASCAR’s," according to Jordan Bianchi of THE ATHLETIC. Phelps has been able to "lead NASCAR through the uncertainties brought about by the shutdown." Although the plan is "not flawless, NASCAR’s procedures have widespread support across the industry, in contrast to some other professional sports leagues where players have been outspoken regarding certain protocols that are lacking or not being enforced." But as NASCAR "seemingly regained its footing, events elsewhere in the country cast NASCAR in a different light, forcing a reckoning with its past issues related to racism." NASCAR execs "understood that there could be no wishy-washy statements or actions that didn’t carry true meaning." Not only did NASCAR "need to ban the Confederate flag, but also it needed to continue being proactive." Phelps said, "We thought it was the right time to do that. I don’t know how to say it other than it just felt right. I don’t know how to describe that any other way" (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/27).
