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NASCAR supports removal of Confederate Flag

NASCAR has made a stance against the Confederate flag that can be seen flying throughout the South and in the infield of some NASCAR races.

Pack racing at Talladega

Pack racing at Talladega

Action Sports Photography

NASCAR flag
Start: Carl Edwards, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota and Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet and Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet fight for the lead in turn 1
Flags in the Daytona infield
Martin Truex Jr., Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet leads a restart
The Confederate flag near the Karussell

NASCAR was born in the deep South, but over the last 67 years, they've grown to become one of the most-watched sports in the United States.

In light of the recent tragedy in Charleston, SC and the call to remove the Confederate Flag from the state capitol, NASCAR has decided to make their stance on the issue known.

“As we continue to mourn the tragic loss of life last week in Charleston, we join our nation’s embrace of those impacted. NASCAR supports the position that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley took on the Confederate Flag on Monday," the series said in a statement Tuesday.

"As our industry works collectively to ensure that all fans are welcome at our races, NASCAR will continue our long-standing policy to disallow the use of the Confederate Flag symbol in any official NASCAR capacity. While NASCAR recognizes that freedom of expression is an inherent right of all citizens, we will continue to strive for an inclusive environment at our events.”

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has pushed to remove the controversial flag from Statehouse grounds after the senseless murder of nine African-American church-goers.

NASCAR has stood in protest of the flag before

This is not the first time NASCAR has stood up in protest of the Confederate Flag in recent years. Bubba Watson, a two-time winner of the U.S. Masters, was set to drive the famous 'Dukes of Hazard' General Lee at Phoenix in early 2012.

But because of the large Confederate Flag on the Dodge Charger's roof, the plans were trashed with NASCAR saying then, "The image of the Confederate flag is not something that should play an official role in our sport as we continue to reach out to new fans and make NASCAR more inclusive."

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