It appeared no drivers, crew or other team members participated in a protest during the national anthem to start the NASCAR Cup series race Sunday.
Several team owners and executives said they wouldn’t tolerate anyone in their organizations protesting. They could be fired if they had.
“It’ll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus,” Richard Childress, who was Dale Earnhardt’s long time team owner, said of protesting. “Anybody that works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people gave their lives for it. This is America.”
As the NFL, NBA and MLB have seen players, owners and teams protest and remark on social media in the wake of President Donald Trump's comments Friday and throughout the weekend about athletes who peacefully protest during the national anthem, several NASCAR owners weighed in.
Richard Petty was asked if drivers protesting during the anthem would be fired, and he said, “You’re right.”
“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,” Petty said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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