NASCAR Owners Threaten to Fire Employees Who Protest National Anthem, Earning Praise from Trump

In September 2017, the national debate over athletes kneeling during the U.S. national anthem reached NASCAR, as several prominent team owners declared they would fire any employee who engaged in such protests. This stance aligned with President Donald Trump’s criticism of NFL players who kneeled to protest racial injustice and police brutality.

Richard Petty, a NASCAR Hall of Famer and owner of Richard Petty Motorsports, stated, “Anybody that don’t stand up for the anthem oughta be out of the country. Period.” When asked if he would fire an employee who protested during the anthem, he affirmed, “You’re right” .

Similarly, Richard Childress, owner of Richard Childress Racing, warned that protesting employees would be dismissed, saying, “It’ll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus” .

President Trump praised NASCAR’s position, tweeting, “So proud of NASCAR and its supporters and fans. They won’t put up with disrespecting our Country or our Flag – they said it loud and clear!” .

However, not all within NASCAR agreed. Dale Earnhardt Jr., one of the sport’s most popular drivers, tweeted a quote from John F. Kennedy: “Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable,” emphasizing Americans’ right to peaceful protest .

NASCAR issued a statement acknowledging the right to peaceful expression while reaffirming its tradition of respecting the national anthem: “Our respect for the national anthem has always been a hallmark of our pre-race events” .

The incident highlighted the divide within NASCAR and the broader sports community over national anthem protests and the balance between free expression and patriotic observance.