Confederate flag ban prompts obscure NASCAR driver Ray Ciccarelli to announce retirement
While some NASCAR fans took to social media to disavow the sport over its ban on the Confederate flag, an obscure, part-time series driver did them one better.
He announced he’s quitting.
Ray Ciccarelli drives the No. 49 truck in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck series, according to CBS Sports. He has one top-10 finish, no wins and no poles. He announced via Facebook he won’t participate after the 2020 season.
While criticizing the practice of kneeling during the national anthem and keeping people from flying “whatever 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 racist all you are doing is (expletive) one group to cater to another and I ain’t spend the money we are to participate in any political (expletive)!! So everything is for SALE!!”
Ciccarelli was heavily criticized on Twitter. His social media accounts appear either to have been deleted or otherwise made inaccessible.
It’s official he’s insulted more races than he’s won https://t.co/QDOaPSb6KU
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) June 11, 2020
Driver Bubba Wallace, NASCAR’s only full-time black driver, called for the flag to be banned at events Monday, saying it had “no place” in the sport, according to NBC News. On Wednesday, before its race at Martinsville Speedway in Virginia, NASCAR made the move.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 10, 2020
Wallace wore a black shirt bearing the words “I can’t breathe” and “black lives matter” at the race and had his car decorated accordingly, including “#blacklivesmatter,” “compassion, love, understanding,” and a black hand clasping a white hand on the hood.
In an appearance on the “Today” show, Wallace said he heard about Ciccarelli’s decision.
“I’ve seen that comment, and I was kind of baffled by it, honestly,” Wallace said. “I think he just solidified his career in no longer being a part of NASCAR. I would encourage NASCAR to really step up and look at that if he tries to reinstate.”
Wallace said he understands that to some, the Confederate flag is about heritage, “but to a large group of people it’s a sign of hate and oppression and just a lot of negative and bad things that come to mind. We’re not saying you can never fly it at your house, but when it comes to a sporting event where we want all races, everybody, to be included… Inclusion is what we’re trying to accomplish here. Unity.”
In an appearance on CNN, Wallace says he became aware of a black veteran who kneeled during the anthem at the race.
He says, “if I would have seen it, I would have went there and stood next to him — kneeled next to him — because it’s such a powerful move — a man, an incredible man, who has served our country kneeling down. People think it’s disrespecting our flag and going against our military. It’s definitely not.”
NASCAR drivers have joined the growing list of athletes and sports leagues throwing their support behind the nationwide protests against police brutality.
"We are trying to deliver the message across, listen and learn," says NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace. https://t.co/dP88eNKB2i pic.twitter.com/vSsu4UrRUM
— CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) June 9, 2020
Neil Linderman is a Tribune-Review copy editor. You can contact Neil at nlinderman@triblive.com.
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