One good point that got edited out of my “NASCAR Nation” piece in the
current NRODT (and I’m not blaming the editors–authors “sign off” on an
edited piece, & if I’d had my wits about me I would have had this put back
in) was as follows.
I note that on the infield of the Talladega Speedway, you see a lot of
Confederate flags. However–this is the bit that got left on the
cutting-room floor–I went on to observe that whenever you see the
Confederate flag and the Stars & Stripes flying together on the same staff,
THE UNION FLAG IS UPPERMOST. I read this as proud patriotism with a strong,
but secondary, admixture of regional pride.