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NASCAR's position on Confederate flag changes
Jeff Gluck, USA TODAY Sports 12:25 a.m. EDT June 28, 2015

In a statement Saturday, chairman Brian France targets flag's removal from tracks' infields

NASCAR's position on the Confederate flag has evolved as CEO Brian France works to distance the sport from what he said Saturday was an "offensive and divisive symbol."

In a statement Saturday, France reiterated the sport's policy preventing the use of the flag in any official capacity -- a stance that drew headlines Tuesday when NASCAR backed the removal of the Confederate flag from South Carolina's Capitol grounds.







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"In all areas that NASCAR controls on a given race weekend, the flag has no presence," France said. "We have been clear in support of this position throughout our industry and to those across the country who have called for the eradication of the Confederate Flag."







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But France went a step further than NASCAR's Tuesday statement on the issue, this time indicating the sport is looking into how it can reduce the flag's presence among fans who might fly it in the infield.







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"We will be as aggressive as possible to disassociate NASCAR events from an offensive and divisive symbol," France said. "We are working with the industry right now to achieve that goal."

NASCAR's earlier statement had indicated it would not act when it came to fans flying the flag on their own at races.

It said Tuesday that NASCAR "recognizes that freedom of expression is an inherent right of all citizens."

Saturday's statement seemed to show France's thinking on the flag issue has been taken a step further.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2015/06/27/nascar-confederate-flag-infield-brian-france/29404041/