Confederate Flags Dotted Darlington’s Infield Despite NASCAR’s Attempt To Ban The Stars And Bars
This weekend marks the first time in 11 years that the Southern 500 returns to Darlington, South Carolina, for Labor Day weekend — a date retained by Darlington for 53 years before NASCAR changed the schedule in 2004 to give Labor Day weekend to the Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. The homecoming didn’t exactly go off without a hitch, however, as race officials worked to rid the infield of the many Confederate flags flying from RVs and attached to cars.
After the Charleston church shooting on June 17, NASCAR chairman Brian France declared that Confederate flags were no longer welcome at NASCAR events and tracks, many racing fans at Darlington this weekend, however, aren’t taking the Confederate flag ban very seriously. Pictures snapped from the Darlington infield shows the rebel flag still flying high atop RVs and from car windows. Many fans are even sporting their Confederate pride on their clothing, and despite an exchange campaign in place — where race officials will trade Confederate flags for American flags — many of those fans refuse to remove their flags.
One of those fans was Dennis Dease, who was spotted walking around the infield wearing a Confederate flag shirt, hat, and suspenders.
“I mean, this is the South. It’s part of our heritage, and nothing they say can change that. You can fly it in your front yard, on your car, on your clothes, wherever you want to, and them trying to tell us we can’t fly it will only make us fly it higher. The flag doesn’t stand for racism or nothing like that. As long as these races come to the South, that flag will keep on flying”
Johnny Davis, another fan who drove to Darlington from Macon, Georgia, flew an assortment of Rebel flags from the top of his RV and said he refused to take them down as the flag is part of the sport’s history.
“Going to a race and not seeing the flag flying wouldn’t be the same. Any race you go to, it’s there. Ever since I was a kid coming to the race, it’s always been here, and I think it’ll always be here.”
It wasn’t only fans sporting the Confederate flag who supported it, however. Jessica Knowles, who has a campsite set up in the infield in preparation for today’s race, wasn’t wearing any rebel flag clothing, nor was she flying the flag from her campsite, she does, however, believes anyone who wants to fly the flag, should have the right to.
“It’s not hurting nobody, so I don’t see a problem with it. There’s a lot worse that people could be doing out here. In all my years going to races, I ain’t never seen that flag cause anybody any trouble.”
Should NASCAR officials be working harder to rid race events of the Confederate flag, or should fans and supporters be able to show their pride however they see fit? Sound off below.
[Image Credit: Header — New York Times, Body — SC Now]
