RACE DRIVERS BOYCOTT RACE

[SUPER-G-24-K]

Race drivers boycott event over flag flap
Sure, it's nearly Fourth of July, but Langley Speedway frowned on displaying Old Glory.

Published July 2, 2004

HAMPTON -- On Thursday night, an American flag flew at Langley Speedway on the eve of Independence Day weekend.

According to track management, it shouldn't have.

A flag flap caused a boycott of a 75-lap feature by the track's Late Model drivers, then a temporary cancellation of the race, then a show by driver Bobby Spivey and, as midnight neared, a race before nearly empty stands, after an apology by track management.

The protest was mounted when track management told Late Model driver Paul DeBolt that he would be disqualified for flying the flag on his hauler. DeBolt continued to fly the flag and track general manager Brink Nelms decided to reverse the disqualification decision, saying that the administration would handle the matter next week.

The drivers then refused to race because of the threat of delayed punishment, and all seven of the officials who work in the scoring tower - including chief steward Bryan Bowyer - resigned in support of the drivers.

Late Model driver Shawn Balluzzo confirmed that all 15 drivers said they would boycott if DeBolt were disqualified. "It's unanimous," Balluzzo said. "I've never seen anything like it in my life."

Fans were told that the drivers were boycotting the race, and a crowd of about 2,000 began to file out of the track. Those left were entertained by Spivey, who drove onto the track and did doughnuts in his car while waving an American flag.

Then the drivers and Nelms huddled again and decided that boycotting a NASCAR-sanctioned event could be costly in the regional points race. So 40 minutes after the race was announced as canceled, drivers were called back to their cars and the race was on, and Mark Wertz won.

The six officials and Bowyer who had resigned in protest remained to score the race but said they would tender their resignations next week. By the time the race finally started, one of the drivers had loaded his car onto a hauler and driven away. There were only about 300 fans left to see the green flag wave.

The controversy ensued during the first race of the five-race show, when Nelms approached DeBolt's trailer and told car-owner Bud Carteret that the flag could not fly on it. Nelms cited a track rule, made June 21, that "all flags banners, socks, etc., will be prohibited from being displayed (flown) in the infield pit area at any time."

Several drivers said that Nelms instituted the rule to keep the team of Late Model driver Jeff Shiflett from displaying the Confederate flag. Nelms would not comment on that, but said the rule will continue to be enforced.

"They just picked the wrong weekend to enforce that rule," driver Billy Fisher said.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

 

[kat2220]

 

[Eagle1]

 

[boB]

I wonder how many folks realize that those rules about flags and banners being flown from haulers parked in the infield, especially at a short track, were instituted because flags and banners obstruct other fans view of the on-track action.

Nothing at all to do with displaying the American flag, the Confederate flag, or some sponsor's flag or banner; just something so sadly lacking in this day and age, simple common sense and courtesey for the paying customers.

And of course a select few feels the need to make an issue out of a complete non-issue.

My lord, what a bunch of immature, selfish, inconsiderate and stupid children.

 

[dragonlady424]

There aren't too darn many "short"
tracks that have an infield large enough to park haulers.
Most short tracks that run "locals" park their
little hauilers on the outside of the track.
On larger tracks, the infield would have to be
fairly good sized to allow for haulers to be parked
there. And if the infield is lagre enough, and the
stands are on one side only of the track, What the
heck difference does it make if the haulers want to display a flag?????
I say, God Bless America, and I WILL display my
country's flag when I see fit!!!!!

 

[indyracing]

Can't fly Old Glory on an American Track? B.S.

 

[boB]

Langley Speedway is a flat track (something like 3 or 4 degree banking in the turns?) just under 4/10ths of a mile around and the stands are not that high. I'm surprised they allow the haulers to park in the infield at all.

They have policy of not allowing flags or banners being flown from the tops of the haulers for a very good reason; that reason being that those flags and banners obstruct the view of the track.

I'm sure if someone wanted to display any flag or banner in a manner which DID NOT obstruct that view, they could find a way to hang their flag or banner which would not cause any problems.

This is simply one more case of folks making a bunch of politically correct cowpies out of absolutely nothing more that a desire to do just that.

There's some pretty good pictures of Langley at their website. www.langleyspeedway.com