NASCAR Agrees With Its Lone Black Driver on Flag

It's time for NASCAR to prohibit fans from waving Confederate flags at its races, said Bubba Wallace, the sport's sole black driver. On Wednesday, the organization agreed. "There should be no individual that is uncomfortable showing up to our events to have a good time with their family that feels some type of way about something they have seen, an object they have seen flying," the 26-year-old driver had told CNN. "No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race. So it starts with Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They have no place for them." The AP notes Confederate flags have been a common sight at racetracks. They're now prohibited at all NASCAR races and properties, per the AP. There was no word on how the ban would be enforced or potential penalties if fans violate it.

Displaying the flag "runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry," a statement said. The announcement was made just before a race in which Wallace, who wore an "I Can't Breathe" T-shirt at Sunday's race, was to compete in a car with a Black Lives Matter paint scheme. Drivers came together for a video calling for social change over the weekend, and NASCAR's governing body recently said it will do better at addressing racial injustice. On Sunday, a black official took a knee before a race. "We want all to feel welcome at our events in the future,” said Daryl Wolfe, NASCAR executive vice president and chief sales and operations officer, after Wallace's comments. (More NASCAR stories.)