Tony Stewart (14) Stewart-Haas Racing Haas Automation Chevrolet SS during practice for the Sprint Cup Series Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, TN.
Jeffrey Vest | Icon Sportswire | fake pictures
A new racing series designed to relive the short-track glory days will ban the Confederate battle flag, just like NASCAR.
Superstar Racing Experience (SRX) is a new series that will feature six races through a short track circuit on Saturday nights starting in 2021. The creators of the series include racing icons Tony Stewart, the crew chief of the Hall of Fame Ray Evernham and The Montag Group, a New York-based sports and entertainment firm.
After the race was announced, CNBC contacted SRX to seek clarity on the flag and was told that the Confederate flag would not be included in future competitions.
“We are going to be an inclusive series with drivers and fans from diverse and multinational backgrounds. We will not tolerate activities or behaviors that create an unpleasant or offensive environment for any of our fans or drivers,” an SRX spokesperson told CNBC.
ViacomCBS and the company’s CBS All-Access subscription service will broadcast SRX events. The association will be a joint economic venture between CBS and SRX.
NASCAR banned the Confederate flag on June 10, two weeks after George Floyd’s death. Driver Bubba Wallace, who is black, was one of the supporters of the flag ban.
“The presence of the Confederate flag at NASCAR events goes against our commitment to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry,” the organization said in a statement at the time.
SRX wants to rejuvenate a short track racing fan base that is popular in the southeast and midwest parts of the country. The International Race of Champions series started in 1974 with iconic runners from Dale Earnhardt, Mario Andretti, Mark Martin and Stewart, dubbed in 2006.
According to the statement, the Montag Group will lead SRX business operations and Evernham will oversee all racing activities. George Pyne, former chief operating officer of NASCAR and current CEO of Bruin Sports Capital, a sports investment firm, is a member of the SRX board and will serve as an advisor.
In a call to reporters, Pyne said the series “is no different than IROC” and that the SRX format for racing “will likely be two 45-minute formats in very exciting settings.”
When asked about the narrative of SRX competing against NASCAR, Stewart played down the suggestion, saying SRX is not competing with NASCAR “in any way” and wants to have a “separation” from the organization.
“We are not going head to head against NASCAR, we are not going to run the same nights as NASCAR,” Stewart said. “It is not meant to be competition for anyone. It is meant to bring a product that is a demand that fans are asking for, that fans want to see.”
“This is a perfect opportunity for many drivers like me to come back and compete against each other in a diverse racing style.”
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