After Bubba Wallace recently suggested that NASCAR reevaluate the use of the traditional white flag—citing concerns about its symbolism and potential misinterpretation—former NASCAR driver Danica Patrick offered a blunt and controversial response.
“He needs to grow a pair and just race,” Patrick said. “If the flag hurts your feelings maybe NASCAR isn’t for you. It’s just racing, not therapy. There’s more important things in this world to worry about.”
Her remarks have ignited heated debate across the motorsports community. Some applaud her for defending tradition and saying what others may think but are hesitant to voice. To them, the white flag—long known as the symbol for the final lap—is part of the sport’s DNA, and changing it for symbolic reasons feels like unnecessary overreach.
Others, however, argue that Patrick’s comments dismiss the importance of inclusivity and sensitivity in a sport still striving to evolve and shed its historically exclusive image. Wallace, one of the few Black drivers in NASCAR, has often taken bold stances to challenge norms and push for progress. His suggestion, they argue, was less about the literal flag and more about being mindful of how symbols are perceived in modern contexts.
As the racing world debates whether Patrick was out of line or simply unapologetically honest, one thing is clear: NASCAR remains at the intersection of tradition and change—and voices on both sides are growing louder.
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