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NASCAR Tracks Ask Fans Not To Fly Confederate Flag

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (CBSMiami/AP) —  Each track that hosts a NASCAR race is asking fans not to fly the Confederate flag at its events.

In a statement signed by International Speedway Corp., Speedway Motorsports Inc. and 30 tracks, the facilities vowed to have "welcoming environments in all of sports and entertainment."

The statement released Thursday includes independent tracks such as Tony Stewart's Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, Pocono Raceway and Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

NASCAR Chairman Brian France has called the flag a symbol he personally finds offensive and said he wants to be as aggressive as possible in barring it from sanctioned events.

Daytona International Speedway will hold a voluntary flag exchange program this weekend in which fans can swap any flag of their choice for an American flag.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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