A racer competing in a local division during the All-American 400 weekend with a confederate flag painted on the roof has resulted in calls for accountability for Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway promoter Bob Sargent.
Joseph West Jr. competed in a Pure Stock with a confederate flag on the roof.
Pictures of the car surfaced online over the weekend in the days since with a group that is seeking to remove the race track from the city-owned property charter leading the charge.
ICYMI: The Confederate flag was on fully display this weekend at the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. When @aftynbehn4tn and @ZachYoungTN and @Oliviafornash say we need to protect the speedway’s “culture,” this must be what they mean ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/EMAxmf4A8G
Restore Our Fairgrounds has successfully petitioned through canvassed signatures the mechanism needed to get the matter on the ballot for Davidson County, Tennessee residents to potentially overturn the 2011 referendum that protects auto racing as a fairground-chartered activity.
It could be on a ballot as early as next November.
The judge overseeing a lawsuit to remove signatures from the petition to eliminate racing from the Nashville Fairgrounds charter through a referendum vote has dismissed said suit after a Tuesday hearing.
The newly proposed referendum would replace auto racing with affordable housing and green space. Thus, Restore Our Fairgrounds seizing on the moment to create content around the controversy is relevant to overall battle for the future of racing in Downtown Music City.
Adding to the pressure is an open latter from Timothy Hughes, president of Nashville’s NAACP branch, requesting more information about track policies regarding the display of hate symbols to Fairgrounds Nashville executive director Laura Womack.
“Consistent with the NAACP’s longstanding position, we call on the Fairgrounds and Fair Board to take concrete and enforceable steps to end Confederate flag displays at this public facility and hold event operators accountable for implementing and enforcing appropriate standards,” reads the November 12 letter.
“Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway does not condone or permit the display of the Confederate flag at our facility,” wrote Womack. “Speedway officials are aware of the situation and are working directly with the driver and race team to address the matter appropriately.”
“The confederate flag is hate speech, and its use not only perpetuates the false narrative of a losing adversary to this country but also a system of white supremacy and violence,” Segall wrote. “Certainly mistakes in rule application happen, but this was not a mere mistake. It was the use of public property for discriminatory and hateful ends. I understand further that this race car has appeared there before, further underscoring the seriousness with which we should take this situation.”
Short Track Scene has spoken to Sargent, who said he has personally been in communication with Hughes and the NAACP to ensure a proper line of communication is had in working through a response. He said it was an oversight and that it should not have happened.
Track enterprises also put out a statement, with Sargent also telling Short Track Scene that they would conduct further conversations with the NAACP as a matter of due diligence.
“It has been brought to our attention that a Pure Stock race car competing during Friday night’s racing program displayed a Confederate flag on its roof.
“Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway does not condone or permit the display of the Confederate flag at our facility. Speedway officials are aware of the situation and are working directly with the driver and race team to address the matter appropriately. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing everyone in 2027!”
For his part, West told Axios this was the first time the car was driven at Fairgrounds Speedway this season. He says he plans to replace the flag with an American flag.
“Bob called us and let us know it’s not allowed, and we’re going to take it off,” West told Axios.
West told Axios he has minorities in his family.
“For us, it’s by far not a racial or political slur in our family.”
The next scheduled Fair Board of Commissioners meeting is next month where Track Enterprises will be called before the group to discuss the ordeal alongside whatever other topical matters need addressing as per the usual policy.
Sargent is the lease holder for the promotional rights of the speedway, a role he has held since the 2020 season, with that partnership recently extending into the 2027 season.
NAACP Letter to Laura Womack
Dear Ms. Womack:
We are writing to express our profound dismay and demand accountability regarding the Confederate flag displayed on a vehicle competing in last weekend’s Fairgrounds Speedway races.
Our concern is grounded in the NAACP’s longstanding position. In its 2000 resolution, ‘Confederate Battle Flag and Emblem,’ the NAACP reaffirmed its condemnation of the display of Confederate flags and emblems in public spaces, recognizing their association with white supremacy and the affront such displays pose to human dignity.
The presence of this symbol at the Nashville Fairgrounds raises serious questions about oversight, accountability, and whether Black residents and other community members can expect a welcoming and inclusive environment at a public facility. Auto racing’s historical association with the Confederate flag does not excuse its continued display in 2026.
We request a prompt written response addressing the following:
Oversight and Enforcement: How was this vehicle permitted to compete while displaying the Confederate flag? Who was responsible for reviewing participating vehicles and enforcing applicable standards?
Previous Appearances: How many times has this vehicle previously appeared in Fairgrounds Speedway races, and was the Confederate flag displayed during those appearances?
Existing Policies and Future Standards: What policies currently govern the display of Confederate flags and other recognized hate symbols at the Fairgrounds? If existing policies do not address this issue, what steps will you take to establish and enforce clear standards prohibiting these displays, including on participating vehicles, and on what timeline?
Fair Board Authority and Contractual Accountability: What authority and remedies does the Fair Board possess under the speedway management contract with race promoter Bob Sargent and Illinois-based Track Enterprises? What corrective action will the Fair Board pursue to ensure compliance and prevent similar incidents?
Public Accountability: What public statement will the Fairgrounds and Fair Board issue to address this incident, acknowledge its impact on the community, and explain the steps being taken to prevent similar occurrences?
Consistent with the NAACP’s longstanding position, we call on the Fairgrounds and Fair Board to take concrete and enforceable steps to end Confederate flag displays at this public facility and hold event operators accountable for implementing and enforcing appropriate standards.
Additionally, we request that this correspondence be included in the official record of the Metropolitan Board of Fair Commissioners and that the incident be placed on the agenda for discussion at the Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting. We believe this matter warrants public acknowledgment and meaningful discussion, given the Fairgrounds’ responsibility as a public facility serving all Nashville residents.
We request a written response within ten business days of receipt of this letter, identifying the officials responsible for follow-through and establishing a clear timeline for corrective action. Nashville’s public spaces should reflect the dignity and belonging of every resident. Nashville is better than this, and our community deserves action that demonstrates it.
Matt Weaver is the owner and founder of Short Track Scene. Weaver grew up in the sport, having raced himself before becoming a reporter in college at the University of South Alabama. He also has extensive experience covering NASCAR, IndyCar and Dirt Sprint Cars.
