NASCAR weighs in on KneeGate ("Anybody that don't stand up for that ought to be out of the country")

[Miles Archer]

On the day Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan linked arms with players in a silent protest before an NFL game in London, if any NASCAR competitors shared the political opinion of athletes expressing themselves elsewhere, they fell completely in line anyway. In a state whose motto is “Live Free or Die,” crewman, including numerous African-Americans, stood in rows as usual for the national anthem, adhering to the prevailing opinion of the sport’s team owners.

“Get you a ride on a Greyhound bus when the national anthem is over,” team owner Richard Childress responded when asked what he would do if one of his employees protested during the anthem. “I told them anyone who works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people have gave their lives for it. This is America.”

Team owner Richard Petty, who won a record-tying seven championships as a driver, said he would fire any employee that didn't stand for the anthem.

“Anybody that don’t stand up for that ought to be out of the country. Period,” Petty said. “If they don’t appreciate where they’re at … what got them where they’re at? The United States.”

http://www.wcnc.com/news/nation-world/nascar-owners-side-with-trump-take-firm-stance-against-anthem-protests/478313435

[onecaliberal]

1. Surprise surprise.

[JI7]

2. Isn't NASCAR the one having a problem work ratings and filling seats

[Ninsianna]

37. Guess they don't mind alienating Americans.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

51. Yeah, seriously... IMHO, anybody who says, "Anybody that dont stand up for that...

ought to be out of the country,” it's THEY who ought to be out of the country.

[Ninsianna]

55. These are people who fundamentally fail to grasp what this country has always been about.

[heaven05]

3. expected

from the idiots who uphold a con man, grifter, asexist racist as a potus of americans, when he is just the potus of ameriKKKans who are nazis and confederates...fuck NASCAR..owners and anyone else saying our right to protest, peacefully and anywhere, anytime injustice is understood for what it is in ameriKKKa now and always. The killing of unarmed men, women and children of AA descent.

[appleannie1943]

4. Every generation of my family from the Revolution through today's wars have

fought to give us the rights we have today. Those NASCAR guys have the right to run their mouths even when they don't know what the hell they are talking about because of American families like mine. Just like NFL players have the right to protest injustice in this country. Right now one of my grandson's is on a ship on his way to Puerto Rico while his president is busy trying to start another war. I have a grand daughter that served 4 tours in Iraq and 2 in Afghanistan. She sure as hell does not need to do the same in N. Korea.

[RKP5637]

5. RW operation. My president, my country right or wrong. n/t

[RainCaster]

6. The sport of hillbillies and hicks.

I would boycott their sponsors, but I would never drink such shitty beer, or shop in stores who pay their employees so little.

[samnsara]

10. i can just hear the twang as he says he aint got no...

..respect for anyone who don't respect no flag

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. A "sport" for morons. Who gives a shit what they think about anything.

[Mopar151]

34. Care to explain the level of hate and ignorance in that remark?

Seriously.....

[The_Casual_Observer]

35. Seriously...."Anybody that ain't "

Why did you target me? Just about everybody else on this thread feels the same way.

[former9thward]

39. What sport is for intellectual superiors such as your self?

[The_Casual_Observer]

40. I take it you enjoy NASCAR?

[Mopar151]

45. I enjoy many forms of motorsports.

NASCAR is a shining example of what happens when money goes to the top. I prefer the more grassroots racing series

[Mopar151]

44. Your post was poignant

In its blanket condemnation of a sport you clearly don't understand.

[The_Casual_Observer]

49. Hahahahahahah

[bearsfootball516]

8. LOL

1. No surprise. NASCAR's main audience is the far right, redncks, white trash, etc.

2. As an above poster mentioned, NASCAR is having massive, massive attendance and viewership problems.

[Man_Bear_Pig]

9. They just want to drive in an oval and turn to the left sometimes.

[bpj62]

11. RWNJ

Why am I not surprised that Richard Petty clearly has no idea what the Constitution stands for. I am so tired of hearing the phrase "if you don't like it you should get out of the country. NASCAR is losing sponsorship, it's viewership is down and attendance is way down as well. These Idiots are part of the reason why. Millennials have no desire to sit at a race for 4 hours. Their base is dying out or got priced out of some of the races. BTW the author of this article clearly knew which owners would react this way.

[Jake Stern]

12. Never saw the draw in NASCAR or any other car racing

Why pay money to watch them when I can stand on the overpass and watch traffic speed by for free?

[Turbineguy]

13. The last

refuge.

[dhill926]

14. I've always enjoyed racing...

These guys just don't get it. Too bad...

[Mopar151]

50. I'm with you.

When did we get demoted?

[spiderpig]

15. Obviously rudimentary English skills aren't part of the good ol' Murkin way

Lord love a duck.

[SharonClark]

20. My thought as well.

[Va Lefty]

16. Used to be a huge Na$car fan.. ask them about the Confederate flag

isn't displaying a flag that tried to dissolve the Union disrespectful? Watch them stammer and refuse to answer.

[Hoyt]

53. It's about Heritage . . . . . . a heritage of hate and brutality.

[mountain grammy]

17. Fuck NASCAR..

[TheCowsCameHome]

22. No, no, no.

It's FUCK NASCAR

[6000eliot]

18. Fuck NASCAR deplorables.

[ADX]

19. Yee Haw!!!

Fucking deplorables...

[jcmaine72]

21. Is there anyone who watches NASCAR who...

...doesn't sleep with their cousin? I take belching contests more seriously as a sport than I do this glorified yahoofest.

[TheCowsCameHome]

23. Hey, you goobers

Try something different - make random right turns now and then. It'll liven up the action a bit.

[jmowreader]

41. They already do that

And it's generally bad.

[Warren DeMontague]

24. More "Protect the symbol- at the expense of what the symbol represents" logic.

dissent and free speech ARE patriotic, hello?

[tenderfoot]

25. The same crowd that waves the Confederate Battle Flag says what?

eom

[pandr32]

52. Exactly!

The confederate flag and our anthem both share a pro-slavery connection.
Many people who stand and honor our anthem seem to understand the third verse and how it celebrates American slaves' failure to find refuge with the British who offered them their freedom if they could make it across the lines--in particular during the British march on Ft McHenry in 1814.
It would be wonderful to have an anthem that celebrates freedom for all Americans--not just White ones.
Perhaps the offensive lyrics could be officially changed or dropped.

[forgotmylogin]

26. While I'm not shocked that NASCAR isn't clued in on this...

“I told them anyone who works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people have gave their lives for it. This is America.”

The problem is, people's lives are being taken arbitrarily and unnecessarily because of their race. I'm sure this isn't on NASCAR's awareness radar, but...

[Dawson Leery]

27. What stereotypes?

NASCAR is for deplorables, running around in circles, going nowhere.

[Codeine]

28. No surprise that the most primitive of motorsports

attracts the most primitive competitors and the most primitive fans.

Hillbillies driving simpleton cars in an endless left-turn oval -- ooooh.

[still_one]

29. wonder what he thinks about those that collude with the Russians?

[ecstatic]

30. But Russian collusion, treason, vote hacks... all OK with these racist, fake patriotic thugs?

So sick of those racist clowns!

[RandySF]

31. Petty is a hardcore Republican.

[Norbert]

32. I call BS on this

For much of NASCARs existence drivers were strapped in the car with helmet on when the National Anthem was being played, well before boogety-boogety-boogety.

Although I respected Richard Petty as a driver he is not the majority owner of Richard Petty Motorsports and thus does not have the final say. Nearly 40 years of breathing a lot of carbon monoxide has affected his mental state.

[billh58]

33. Race cars by day, and

burning crosses by night. Amurican good-ole-boys at their best.

[Drahthaardogs]

36. Driving a car is not athletics let alone a sport.

Eom.

[roamer65]

38. NASCAR is full of inbred deplorables.

Petty is one of them.

[Initech]

42. Mitt Romney's best friends, people!

[jmowreader]

43. Well...what did you expect from CorporateCar?

Ah yes, NASCAR...that grand American institution where unrepentant right-wingers tune in to watch their favorite competitors go to the left 600 times an hour.

And in case you're wondering...since the beginning of the 2016 season, Childress' shop has won two races (both in 2017) and Petty's shop hasn't won any.

[KG]

46. white peoples sport.

white fans, white drivers.

[HAB911]

47. What a surprise (not)

[GeorgeGist]

48. Disrespecting the Bill of Rights is cool though.

[Ilsa]

54. Are Childress and Petty the only ones? DE, Jr, is opposite.

Is NASCAR defined by just these two bosses?