Ray Ciccarelli quitting NASCAR over Confederate flag ban

NASCAR turned off some fans on Wednesday by announcing it was banning Confederate flags from all of its events. It also lost a driver.

In a Facebook post, Ray Ciccarelli wrote he was ending his NASCAR Truck Series career after this season because of the decision.

“Well its been a fun ride and dream come true but if this is the direction Nascar is headed we will not participate after the 2020 season is over,” Ciccarelli announced. “I don’t believe in kneeling during Anthem nor taken ppl right to fly whatever flag they love.

“I could care less about the Confederate Flag but there are ppl that do and it doesn’t make them a racist all you are doing is f–king one group to cater to another.”

The 50-year-old driver had taken part in 18 different Truck Series races over the last four years. He finished in the top 10 once, placing ninth in the Michigan International Speedway last year. Banning the Confederate flag was a big move by NASCAR, considering the sport’s conservative roots.

It has expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement amid civil unrest in the country following the police-involved death of black man George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Bubba Wallace, NASCAR’s only black driver, had called for the flag ban earlier this week and had his car emblazoned with “Black Lives Matter” at Wednesday’s race in Martinsville.