NASCAR, unlike other sports that have turned political, is not afraid to take on political challenges.
The NASCAR racing calendar begins this week in an unusual way. The Clash, which is a series small races in which the fastest finishers gather for one final sprint, usually opens the NASCAR year. The series will be open this year and not at Daytona Speedway. InsideLos Angeles Coliseum. They have actually paved the interior of the century-old stadium, racing on a cramped, quarter-mile course that is half the size of NASCAR’s smallest short tracks.
The bumps and interference sure to be seen throughout today’s races are a good metaphor to what the sport’s organization is facing in the realm of activist political issues. It is evident that there are differences between NASCAR’s actions in politics and similar ones in other sports. However, the energy behind those issues appears to be going in the opposite direction.
Contrary to the NFL’s national anthem protests or the NBA’s all-in Black Lives Matter, NASCAR is often forced to take action against its fans, instead of trying to force a message on those who watch the sport. The governors have repeatedly taken action seemingly in an effort to appease those outside the sport — and in opposition to those who support racing.
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It began years ago, when the sport’s offices put out a message imploring fans to refrain from flying the Confederate flag at NASCAR events. In response to external pressures, the officials’ statementIt was requested that participants in races do not carry the banner.
To create an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone who attends our events, we are asking fans to get involved. The request will be to not display the Confederate Flag on our NASCAR events or facilities.
By 2020, with the rise in social upheaval and the BLM protests across the country, the sport’s The ban was codified by the governing bodyThe flags’ appearance has suffered. While many opposed this move — just as many were upset at the sport seeming to cave to the social pressures of activists — most of whom were not fans of the sport, it has proven to be a slippery embankment.
In 2020, the future was here.infamous garage noose incidentBubba Wallace was the bi-racial driver. This was the national outrage story claiming someone had fashioned the noose in Wallace’s garage, and the reaction within the sport as well as outside was that NASCAR – which some tabbed to be called “Noose-car” – needed to be forced into the new era of social thinking. It was not until it was proven to be. A completely exaggerated statementReaction to outrage
It took the FBI calling in to confirm that the rope was a garage pull. Evidence had also been found that it had been in use in the racing season prior. Wallace wasn’t targeted and it was not considered a hate crime.
Nevertheless, he continued to do his job. Sitting for an ESPN documentary ,He spoke out about not forgetting the NASCAR community members who didn’t join the display of racism over what was an errorn issue and his family continuing to claim it was hate-crime against Bubba.
During much of this time, driver Kyle Larson found himself immersed in controversy — For actions that didn’t happen during a race.Many drivers took part in virtual races on Twitch as part of the iRacing League, while the Cup Season was suspended due to the pandemic. During a ‘non-race,’ Larson lost some of his connection and he muttered the N-word epithet towards a white member of his crew. Larson was then suspended by his team and NASCAR. Finally, he was released from Chip Ganassi Racing.
Larson’s bi-racial background was lost in all the commotion surrounding his mandatory sensitivity training. He came to NASCAR via the Drive For Diversity program which allows minority drivers to be eligible for the sport. Bubba Wallace was a participant in this program. Larson also did not use the term as a derogatory racist insult, but in today’s society, there is no room for nuance.
NASCAR is facing a new headache after provoking a significant cultural event. After a win in the Xfinity Series, Brandon Brown, driver, was being interviewed on track. The crowd started chanting anti-Biden vulgarities. The reporter, trying to save face, spawned the “Let’s Go Brandon” movement.
Brown tried his best to avoid any controversy and even wrote an editorial. In an effort to get awayThe now familiar chant.
Florida governor Ron Desantis comments on NASCAR rejecting LGB Coin https://t.co/f9V4Mgrdfd pic.twitter.com/5Rl076ZOK7
— Sprint Car Racing (@SprintRaceNews) January 7, 2022
As sponsors shied away from his unintentional involvement, Brown eventually had to relent, and he took on a new sponsor in the offseason – the LGB.coin.io cryptocurrency. After unveiling a new paint scheme to display the sponsorship, however, there was again controversy. With examples, many media outlets took offense to his partnership. Like USA Today declaring it a “vulgar anti-Biden meme.”
NASCAR was then both inept and weak. The governing body stepped in to tell the team to stop promoting the car’s new look via social media. This was because approval for such was not yet finalized. The officials quickly returned to inform the team that they would not be allowed to use the logo from the cryptocurrency. The team claimed they received approval prior to the race circuit and that the official initial word was true. However, this announcement is a defiance of both their claims and those of officials.
A PR strategist who represents the racecar driver and Brandonbilt Motorsports, said NASCAR provided written approval of the car’s paint scheme and sponsorship for the upcoming season of the Xfinity Series, NASCAR’s second tier. James Koutoulas, a leading holder of LGBcoin, said NASCAR approved the sponsorship deal contingent on the use of the LGB acronym, rather than spelling out “Let’s Go Brandon,’’ for the paint scheme on Brown’s car.
NASCAR also issued a statement that the team accepted, mentioning only minor changes to the paint scheme needed to clearly display the number.
.@NASCAR didn’t outright reject Brandon Brown’s ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ car design and LGB Coin sponsorship.
In December, it was approved by the full council.
Pressure was applied—some speculating directly from the White House—and they reversed course. pic.twitter.com/JlFRM2ZU6C
— Adrian Norman (@AdrianNormanDC) January 6, 2022
Brown is able to abide by the restrictions. Signed a lucrative agreementThe cryptocurrency will be the main sponsoring partner. This adds to the increasing number of NASCAR decisions made that seem to have been influenced and acted against the fan’s will. It is against the best interests of NASCAR to continue working in contradictory and unpopular ways during times of trying to recover from pandemic lows.
NASCAR Season 1 begins with Series Cup Champion Kyle Larson protecting his title.
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