Dale Earnhardt Jr. Disagrees With Trump After NASCAR Owners Threaten Firings

CHARLOTTE, NC — One day after NASCAR team owners threatened to fire drivers and employees who do not stand for the national anthem, one of the sport’s most popular drivers pushed back, calling the right to peacefully protest an American right. Hours later, NASCAR officials publicly supported Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s stance on the issue that riled weekend sports fans nationwide.

The issue of standing for the anthem skyrocketed to the forefront over the weekend when, during a campaign rally in Alabama Friday night, President Trump profanely called for the firing of NFL players who practice their First Amendment rights on the football field by kneeling during the national anthem in protest to police brutality. In response, some team owners joined NFL players at the league's games, protesting in far larger numbers than usual with some taking a knee during the anthem, others locking arms and some teams stayed in the locker room as the "Star Spangled Banner" played.

Trump thanked NASCAR and its fans for their patriotism in a new tweet, while critics said that he missed the larger picture. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernack last year began the practice of kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice; he remains unsigned since he left the 49ers.

On Monday morning Earnhardt publicly weighed in with the tweet: “All Americans R granted rights 2 peaceful protests.”

Earnhardt’s comment comes on the heels of several owners, including his former boss, Richard Childress, threatening driver jobs for protesting. According to the Charlotte Observer, Childress told his employees that “anybody that works for me should respect the country we live in,” and “I’ll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus.”

When asked about the issue during an interview, NASCAR legend Richard Petty said he supports firing protesting employees. “Anybody that don't stand up for the anthem oughta be out of the country. Period. What got 'em where they're at? The United States,” the Observer reported.

By Monday afternoon, however, NASCAR issued an official statement that mirrored support for Earnhardt's stance: "Thanks to the sacrifices of many, we live in a country of unparalleled freedoms and countless liberties, including the right to peacefully express one's opinion."

Trump took to Twitter to thank racing team owners supporting his position. “So proud of NASCAR and its supporters and fans. They won’t put up with disrespecting our Country of our Flag. -- they said it loud and clear,” Trump tweeted Monday morning.

NASCAR has been slower to integrate what began as an all-white sport than any other professional sport, according to the Charlotte Observer. Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, an African-American driver from Mobile, Alabama, was the fourth black driver to race in the NASCAR Cup Series when he competed this summer at Pennsylvania’s Pocono Raceway.

Patch Editor Feroze Dhanoa contributed to this report.

Images via Pixabay

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