Most Nascar Fans Support Black Lives Matter, Study Finds

(Bloomberg) -- Nascar fans are cheering for the organization’s support of the Black Lives Matter movement and ban on Confederate flags.

That’s the takeaway from an audience study by Performance Research, a Rhode Island-based firm that specializes in market and sponsorship analysis, in the wake of driver Bubba Wallace’s decision to call for a ban on the Confederate flag at Nascar events.

Fans over the age of 40 showed 53% support for the circuit’s decision. Those under 40 supported the measure by 76%. Among Black respondents, the figure was 77%.

Across the board, responses from Nascar fans showed widespread support for the organization’s decisions to combat racism and social injustice, including by displaying symbols for the Black Lives Matter movement on race day.

“The study shows that Nascar fans are socially more liberal than popularly perceived,” said Perfomance Research co-founder Bill Doyle.

When asked about Nascar’s decision to include a car driven by Wallace with a Black Lives Matter message, nearly two-thirds of fans over the age of 40 supported the move, while 82% of fans under 40 did so. Nearly half of older fans said they’d “take extra steps to support Nascar sponsors who incorporate a Black Lives Matter message.” More than three-quarters of younger fans said they would do the same.

That could be auspicious news for other sports leagues that are considering how to incorporate social justice messages. The National Basketball Association is in negotiations with its players union to allow such messages on jerseys in lieu of their own names.

“Nascar is making the right moves for their long-term future, even if it means some short-term losses,” said Doyle.

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