NASCAR’s Bubba Wallace, the first full-time African American driver in the Cup Series since 1971, told CNN he wants to get rid of all the Confederate flags at NASCAR races.
“No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race. It starts with Confederate flags,” Wallace said. “Get them out of here. They have no place for them.”Initially Confederate flags did not bother him, Wallace said, but after educating himself he sees how uncomfortable it makes people.
Tomorrow night at @MartinsvilleSwy, @BubbaWallace will run a special #BlackLivesMatter paint scheme promoting racial equality. #CompassionLoveUnderstanding
Learn more: pic.twitter.com/MHWwNzIzFJ
— Richard Petty Motorsports (@RPMotorsports) June 9, 2020
“There’s going to be a lot of angry people that carry those flags proudly but it’s time for change,” he said. “We have to change that, and I encourage NASCAR to have those conversations to remove those flags.”
If fans don’t agree, Wallace told CNN they can “get back on the road where you came from.”
“We should not be able to have an argument over that,” he said. “It is a thick line we cannot cross anymore.”“We are committed to providing a welcoming atmosphere free of offensive symbols. This is an opportunity for NASCAR Nation to demonstrate its sense of mutual respect and acceptance for all who attend our events while collectively sharing the tremendous experience of NASCAR racing,” the racing body told CNN.
