Recently retired NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Monday quoted former President John F. Kennedy while chiming in on the national anthem protests on Twitter.
Earnhardt is still the sport's biggest star. NASCAR issued a statement Monday affirming the "right to peacefully express one's opinion" but NASCAR owners over the weekend warned racing teams that any national protesters will be fired.
The firestorm started after President Donald Trump took jabs at professional athletes who kneel during the anthem.
Trump last Friday said NFL owners should fire players who do so, and doubled down on those comments over the weekend.
"I think it's very disrespectful to our flag and to our country," he said. "We have great people representing our country, especially our soldiers, our first responders, and they should be treated with respect. And when you get on your knee and you don't respect the American flag or the anthem, that's not being treated with respect."
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