On Wednesday night, Bubba Wallace, NASCAR's lone black driver, debuted a custom stock car in Martinsville, Virginia (above). The car, emblazoned with #BLACKLIVESMATTER, also features black and white hands clenched together, a peace sign made up of different hands, and the phrase “compassion, love, understanding” printed on the back bumper. When interviewed about the car (below), Wallace said "My next step would be to get rid of all Confederate flags, get them out of here." Well, turns out NASCAR agrees.
NASCAR's governing body released the following statement
"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," a statement read. "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."
This follows last week's announcement, where NASCAR removed all guidelines requiring team members to stand for the national anthem. Prior to last week's race in Atlanta, NASCAR official Kirk Price kneeled during the anthem while saluting the flag. Price served in the U.S. Army for three years, active duty.