San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Social justice at NASCAR’s forefront as season begins
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR received warnings — “Go Woke, Go Broke” — from every corner of the internet last summer. Fans said they didn’t want to hear about social justice, and banning the Confederate flag at racetracks would drive them from the sport forever.
If there has been an exodus, NASCAR has not noticed.
A predominately white sport with deep Southern roots and a longtime embrace of Confederate symbols, NASCAR was forced last summer to face its own checkered racial history during the country’s social unrest. After the death of George Floyd spurred a racial reckoning across America, Bubba Wallace, the Cup Series’ only Black driver, wore an “I Can’t Breathe” Tshirt and raced a car with “Black Lives Matter” painted on the hood.
His peers promised to listen and learn, a NASCAR official knelt during the national anthem and the governing body
vowed to do a better job of addressing racial injustice.
As a new season begins Sunday with the Daytona 500, a new era of social consciousness has enveloped the sport. The Confederate flag is banned, and compliance has not been a problem during Daytona week.
In fact, NASCAR President Steve Phelps cited a study by Directions Research that found that “avid NASCAR fans” overwhelmingly supported the sanctioning body’s stance on social justice.
“It was a moment in time back in June that seemed, for us, it was the right time to act. I think it was the right time for our country. I think it was the right time for our sport. The response was fantastic,” Phelps said.
Wallace, who will start sixth in Sunday’s race for Michael Jordan’s new 23XI Racing team, has been the face of NASCAR’s movement. Born and raised in the South, he no longer wanted to see the Confederate flag at his workplace and found his voice.
He received death threats, was booed during driver introductions and the crowd at Bristol Motor Speedway cheered when he wrecked.
But Wallace has brought in new sponsors to NASCAR — DoorDash, Columbia Sportswear and Root Insurance — and has a fully funded car for the first time in his career.
“It opened up an aperture to a brandnew fan base,” Phelps said.
Xfinity Series opener: Austin Cindric opened his title defense, with a win, taking the lead at the start of twolap overtime and holding off Brett Moffitt.