NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt, Jr. opened up in a recent interview, discussing his strong opinions about the Confederate flag.
When topic was raised by reporters at the Sonoma Raceway on Friday, the 40-year-old stock car driver did not bite his tongue when supporting the need to remove it.
“I think it’s offensive to an entire race. It does nothing for anybody to be there flying, so I don’t see any reason.”
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. further identified the one place where he feels the Confederate flag belongs and should remain.
“It belongs in the history books and that’s about it.”
USA Today reports that Dale Earnhardt, Jr. agreed with NASCAR in regards to removing the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state capitol of South Carolina.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Confederate flag: ‘It’s offensive to an entire race’ http://t.co/SnkkkBR3Zp
— USA TODAY Sports (@USATODAYsports) June 27, 2015
Keep in mind that this is not the first time that Dale Junior has spoken out to the public when it comes to his views on the Confederate flag. In an October, 2006, interview with Yahoo! Sports , Earnhardt did not have the same boldness when he discussed the flag. His statement established more of a neutral ground on the issue.
“We live in a country where you can speak freely and do as you may. I don’t know [if] what that flag stands for is the same for me as it is the guy who might have it flying out there. I am not going to agree with everything everybody does all my life. So I don’t have any control over it.”
Several years before that interview, however, Earnhardt was a little more direct with his view in his 2001 autobiography. He reportedly stated that the Confederate flag “represents closed-minded, racist views that have no place in today’s society,” according to SB Nation . Dale’s comments have apparently received a lot of positive responses and reactions on Twitter.
“It belongs in the history books and that’s about it,” Dale Earnhardt, Jr. said of the Confederate flag. — i lowkey love dale jr
— rae (@batsignals) June 27, 2015
Good for @DaleJr , he has it right. NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt Jr. backs ban on Confederate flag https://t.co/PAFW2EuoFV
— Lee J Pollock (@LeeJPollock) June 27, 2015
The world we live in is one where Dale Earnhardt Jr. is more eloquent and clear concerning the Confederate Flag than many politicians.
— Will McAvoy (@WillMcAvoyACN) June 27, 2015
NASCAR has already confirmed that using the Confederate flag in any official capacity will continue to be banned throughout the organization.
Dale Earnhardt, Jr. is not the only racing star that publicly voiced his support for NASCAR’s decision. Dale’s longtime teammate, Jeff Gordon, stated that he supports NASCAR, but also understands the “different opinions and expressions” that are prevalent in the South.
[Image Credit: Drew Hallowell & Win McNamee/Getty Images]
