NASCAR Driver Quits After Confederate Flag is Banned

NASCAR Truck Series driver Ray Ciccarelli is planning to quit following NASCAR's ban on the Confederate flag amid mounting pressure from protesters calling for racial justice after a black man, George Floyd, died in the custody of former Minneapolis police officers.

Ciccarelli seemed to confirm his decision in a now-deleted post to Facebook, which was made available in a screengrab by Daily Mail.

"Well its been a fun ride and dream come true but if this is the direction Nascar is headed we will not participate after 2020 season is over , i don't believe in kneeling during Anthem nor taken ppl right to fly what ever flag they love." he wrote. "I could care less about the Confederate Flag but there are ppl that do and it doesn't make them a racist all you are doing is f---ing one group to cater to another and i ain't spend the money we are to participate in any political BS!! So everything is for SALE!!"

NASCAR helmet artist Jason Beam applauded Ciccarelli for voicing his opinion.

"Nice seeing some balls stand up to the political propaganda," he shared in a tweet along with a screengrab of the driver's statement.

NASCAR announced on Wednesday that it would be banning the display of the Confederate flag on all vehicles and at all events shortly after Bubba Wallace, the only black driver in NASCAR, called for its ban.

"No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race," Wallace told CNN's Donald Lemon earlier this week. "So it starts with Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They have no place for them."

In 2015, NASCAR officials requested fans to "refrain from displaying" the Confederate flag at its events, but did not issue an outright ban. NASCAR, however, has banned the use of the flag on its race cars and merchandise.

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