For Black NASCAR Fans, Change Would Mean Feeling at Ease at a Race

“It just shows you how many people out there are so closed-minded and don’t want to see change because it doesn’t benefit them or makes them uncomfortable or reveals their flaws,” said Jae Bradley, 22, a college student and racing fan from West Monroe, La., who follows Chase Elliott. “NASCAR’s trying to go in one direction and a large portion of the fan base doesn’t want to do in that direction. But most of us know it’s for the betterment of the sport.”

It remains to be seen how far NASCAR travels along this path.

Derrick Crutcher, 45, of Athens, Ala., has enjoyed racing for decades (“I’d watch guys race lawn mowers, man”). But even though he lives just two hours by car from Talladega Superspeedway, he has never attended a race there.

“I’d love to go,” Crutcher said, “but I’m not going down there until I feel safe.”

Brown and Reynolds both said they would not feel comfortable going to Talladega, either.

This was NASCAR’s predicament personified: longtime, loyal fans who refused to visit one of the sport’s premier venues because they could not imagine feeling welcomed there.

But could NASCAR’s steps this month signal a cultural transformation that might alter Crutcher’s stance? He paused to consider the thought.

“It could happen,” he said, finally. “It could. Someday, if we get the feeling the wind is blowing in the right direction, we’ll try. Who knows?”

Azi Paybarah contributed reporting.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/26/sports/autoracing/nascar-black-fans.html