Texas Motor Speedway Asking Race Fans To Ditch The Confederate Flag

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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW) - Texas Motor Speedway has joined a NASCAR plea for fans to stop bringing Confederate Flags to the track.

Confederate flags have long been commonplace at NASCAR races, but the family-run organization is now calling on fans to stop flying the their flags at NASCAR events.

Texas Motor Speedway has signed on to NASCAR's statement which reads in part, "We are asking our fans and partners to join us in a renewed effort to create an all-inclusive, even more welcoming atmosphere for all who attend our events."

In a 2005 interview with 60 Minutes, NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France said free speech prevented them from banning the flag outright.

This week's call to fans to leave the flags at home comes as part of a nation-wide debate on the meaning of the Confederate flag, in the wake of last month's racially-motivated church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.