Gluck: NASCAR should ban Confederate flag from all tracks now

NASCAR needs to ban the Confederate flag from all of its racetracks. Now.

The sanctioning body generated some headlines this week when it supported banning the flag from the grounds of the South Carolina state capitol.

In doing so, NASCAR reiterated its stance on the flag: That in hopes of providing an inclusive environment at races, it will "continue to disallow the use of the Confederate flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity."

But the statement didn't go far enough, because it also said this: "NASCAR recognizes that freedom of expression is an inherent right of all citizens."

In the wake of the mass shooting in Charleston that claimed nine lives, it's never been so clear that the flag is a toxic, modern-day symbol of divisiveness.

If you walk through the infield at places like Darlington Raceway in South Carolina or Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, the flag can easily be spotted flying from the tops of motorhomes parked in the infield.

It can even be seen on TV as the camera sweeps by to show cars racing. The sight of it wouldn't feel very inclusive for someone who believes — as most do today — that the flag represents a history of oppression and racism.

Just ask Brad Daugherty, the JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner who told Sirius XM Radio this week that the flag "makes my skin crawl."

"Even though I do my best to not acknowledge it or to pay any attention to it, it's there and it bothers me," said Daugherty, who is African-American. "The old heritage versus hate thing in my mind is ridiculous because that flag, to any African-American person, does not represent any type of heritage. It 100% represents hate."

NASCAR certainly hasn't endorsed the flag. Three years ago, it angered PGA star Bubba Watson by preventing him from driving his General Lee car — the one from Dukes of Hazzard with a Confederate flag on the roof — around the track before an event at Phoenix International Raceway.

And in 2005, NASCAR chairman and CEO Brian France told 60 Minutes that "it's not a flag I look at with anything favorable. That's for sure."

But France also said: "These are massive facilities. And I can't tell people what flag to fly."

Sure he can. It's simple: NASCAR can order racetracks to not permit any displays of the Confederate flag on track property, including from the tops of infield campers.

This isn't a free speech issue. Racetracks are private property, and it's within a business's discretion to disallow certain symbols.

If a camper was flying a flag with a horrible graphic image or a series of expletives written on it, NASCAR would likely have the track take it down. The sport couldn't afford to have that seen on TV.

What if a fan flew a Nazi flag on the property? What about an ISIS flag? Surely, someone would order it removed.

Some NASCAR fans display the Stars and Bars because they believe it's a tribute to their Southern roots. So cracking down on those who fly the Confederate flag at races could further alienate some hardcore fans who have grown upset with NASCAR because of its many rules changes over the past decade. Would NASCAR want to risk giving them a reason to leave for good? Probably not.

It's easy to support South Carolina's efforts to remove the flag from the capitol grounds. It's harder to look in the mirror and make a decision that could impact business, even if it's the right one.

Follow Gluck on Twitter @jeff_gluck

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