Editing NASCAR (section)

==Criticism==
{{Main|Criticism of NASCAR}}

NASCAR has been the target of criticism on various topics from various sources. Some critics note the significant differences between today's NASCAR vehicles and true "stock" cars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://community.nascar.com/madcowracing/blog/2010/03/03/the_real_reason_nascar_is_less_stock|title=News & Media|access-date=December 30, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008133306/http://community.nascar.com/madcowracing/blog/2010/03/03/the_real_reason_nascar_is_less_stock|archive-date=October 8, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Others frequently cite the dominance of the [[France family]] in NASCAR's business structure, policies, and decision making. Recently, the increased number of Cup drivers competing consistently in the [[NASCAR Xfinity Series|Xfinity Series]] races has been hotly debated. Another general area of criticism, not only of NASCAR but other motorsports as well, includes questions about fuel consumption,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mndaily.com/2008/06/04/nascar-waste-resources |title=NASCAR a waste of resources |publisher=Mndaily.com |date=June 4, 2008 |access-date=May 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319224928/http://www.mndaily.com/2008/06/04/nascar-waste-resources |archive-date=March 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> emissions and [[Mobile source air pollution|pollution]], and the use of lead additives in the gasoline. Originally scheduled for 2008, NASCAR adopted the use of unleaded fuel in all three of its top series in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/01/30/unleaded.fuel.testing/index.html|title=Unleaded fuel passing Cup test at Las Vegas|publisher=NASCAR.com|date=February 1, 2007|access-date=November 21, 2012|archive-date=October 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007100602/http://www.nascar.com/2007/news/headlines/cup/01/30/unleaded.fuel.testing/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2011, NASCAR switched to E15 "green" fuel (15% [[ethanol fuel|ethanol]] and 85% gasoline) for all three touring series.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nascar-items.com/fueling-facts-for-nascar-and-the-switch-to-unleaded-gas-2 |title=NASCAR's Switch to Unleaded Gas |publisher=Nascar Items |date=March 7, 2008 |access-date=May 2, 2012 |archive-date=March 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313163647/http://nascar-items.com/fueling-facts-for-nascar-and-the-switch-to-unleaded-gas-2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

As NASCAR has made moves to improve its national appeal, it has begun racing at new tracks, and ceased racing at some traditional ones&nbsp;– a sore spot for the traditional fan base. Most recently, NASCAR has been challenged on the types and frequency of [[Caution Flag]]s, with some critics<ref>{{cite web |url=http://autoracingsport.com/skinner-joins-stewart-in-exposing-nascar-manipulation/ |title=Skinner joins Stewart in exposing NASCAR manipulation |publisher=Autoracingsport.com |access-date=May 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224232432/http://autoracingsport.com/skinner-joins-stewart-in-exposing-nascar-manipulation/ |archive-date=February 24, 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/377065-jimmie-johnson-and-jeff-gordon-did-nascar-manipulate-phoenix-results|title=Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon: Did NASCAR Manipulate Phoenix Results?|first=David|last=Yeazell|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date=December 30, 2016|archive-date=June 13, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613052857/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/377065-jimmie-johnson-and-jeff-gordon-did-nascar-manipulate-phoenix-results|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://autoracingsport.com/we-want-your-vote-does-nascar-manipulate-its-races-in-any-way/ |title=Does NASCAR manipulate its races in any way? |publisher=Autoracingsport.com |access-date=May 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224232437/http://autoracingsport.com/we-want-your-vote-does-nascar-manipulate-its-races-in-any-way/ |archive-date=February 24, 2012 }}</ref> suggesting the outcome of races is being manipulated, and that the intention is not safety, as NASCAR claims, but closer racing.
There have been a few accidents involving fans during races and even some off the tracks, but no spectator has ever been killed during a race in an accident relating to the race,<ref>{{cite web
| title = Daytona 500 2000 – Bodine, fans escape serious injury in fiery crash
| url = https://www.espn.com/auto/nascar/daytona00/s/2000/0218/365121.html
| access-date = November 26, 2011
| archive-date = March 6, 2016
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160306104119/http://espn.go.com/auto/nascar/daytona00/s/2000/0218/365121.html
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title = Ed Hinton: NASCAR has major decisions to make on restrictor-plate racing – ESPN
| date = April 27, 2009
| url = https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/columns/story?columnist=hinton_ed&id=4104348
| access-date = November 26, 2011
| archive-date = May 5, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220505195439/https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/cup/columns/story?columnist=hinton_ed&id=4104348
| url-status = live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title = David Newton: Some Daytona fans out of hospital – ESPN
| date = February 28, 2013
| url = https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/nationwide/story/_/id/8998541/five-fans-hospital-following-horrific-crash-daytona-international-speedway
| access-date = August 13, 2013
| archive-date = October 1, 2022
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221001060139/https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/nationwide/story/_/id/8998541/five-fans-hospital-following-horrific-crash-daytona-international-speedway
| url-status = live
}}</ref> although a fan was killed by a lightning strike in 2012 after the [[2012 Pennsylvania 400]] at [[Pocono Raceway|Pocono]] was called short due to the storm.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Associated Press: Fan dies, 9 others injured after lightning strikes Pocono Raceway NASCAR event – CBS
| website = [[CBS News]]
| url = https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57487044/fan-dies-9-others-injured-after-lighting-strikes-pocono-raceway-nascar-event/
| access-date = August 13, 2013
| archive-date = August 7, 2012
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120807202145/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57487044/fan-dies-9-others-injured-after-lighting-strikes-pocono-raceway-nascar-event/
| url-status = dead
}}</ref> It was revealed in 2008 that a wrongful death lawsuit against NASCAR stemming from the crash of a company plane was settled for $2.4&nbsp;million.<ref name="DaytonaPost-Death-Settlement">{{cite web|url=http://www.daytonapost.com/2008/09/wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-nascar.html|title=Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against NASCAR settled for $2.4 Million|author=AP Top Headlines|date=September 27, 2008|publisher=daytonapost.com|access-date=April 17, 2009|archive-date=March 30, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330060118/http://www.daytonapost.com/2008/09/wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-nascar.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CBS-wrongful death">{{cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/autoracing/story/10984373|title=NASCAR verbally agrees to settle in death of pilot|date=September 18, 2008|work=CBS Sports; Auto Racing|publisher=CBSsports.com, CBS Interactive|access-date=April 17, 2009|archive-date=December 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206075416/http://www.cbssports.com/autoracing/story/10984373|url-status=dead}}</ref>

For years, NASCAR had been under criticism for allowing the [[Modern display of the Confederate battle flag|Confederate flag]] to be flown during races. Former chairman Brian France tried to ban the flying of Confederate flags at race tracks in 2015, which caused anger among fans.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-06-10|title=NASCAR bans Confederate flags at racetracks|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/29293767/nascar-bans-confederate-flags-racetracks|access-date=2020-06-10|website=ESPN.com|language=en|archive-date=June 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610211909/https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/29293767/nascar-bans-confederate-flags-racetracks|url-status=live}}</ref> It had previously asked fans to voluntarily stop flying the flag after the 2015 [[Charleston church shooting]], but this did not end the practice. [[Bubba Wallace]], the only African-American NASCAR top-circuit driver, drove the 2020 spring Martinsville race in a car with [[Black Lives Matter]] livery, and appeared in an anti-racism video with a number of white drivers.<ref>{{cite web |title=NASCAR Bans Confederate Flag From Events |website=[[NPR]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703220633/https://www.npr.org/2020/06/11/874568691/nascar-bans-confederate-flag-from-events |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |url-status=live |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/06/11/874568691/nascar-bans-confederate-flag-from-events |access-date=June 11, 2020 }}</ref> On June 10, 2020, in the wake of [[George Floyd protests|protests]] related to the [[murder of George Floyd]], NASCAR announced that the display of the Confederate flag will be prohibited from all of its events and properties.<ref name=":0" />

In February 2022, the [[United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit|U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals]] ruled in a lawsuit against [[Bitconnect]] that the [[Securities Act of 1933]] extends to [[Targeted advertising|targeted solicitation]] using [[Influencer marketing|social media]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lawler|first=Richard|date=February 18, 2022|title=Influencers beware: promoting the wrong crypto could mean facing a class-action lawsuit|website=The Verge|publisher=Vox Media|url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/18/22941470/bitconnect-ponzi-bitcoin-securities-act-sec-lawsuit-influencers-youtube-tiktok|access-date=July 13, 2022|archive-date=July 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718010038/https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/18/22941470/bitconnect-ponzi-bitcoin-securities-act-sec-lawsuit-influencers-youtube-tiktok|url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2022, a class-action lawsuit was filed in Florida against the LGBcoin [[cryptocurrency]] company, NASCAR, [[stock car racing]] driver [[Brandon Brown (racing driver)|Brandon Brown]], and political commentator [[Candace Owens]] alleging that the defendants made [[False statements of fact|false]] or [[False advertising|misleading statements]] about the [[LGBcoin]] and that the founders of the company had engaged in a [[pump and dump]] scheme.<ref>{{cite news|last=Seitz|first=Jacob|date=April 8, 2022|title='Let's Go Brandon' Coin: NASCAR, Brandon Brown, Candace Owens sued for promoting failed crypto in pump-and-dump scheme|website=[[The Daily Dot]]|url=https://www.dailydot.com/debug/lets-go-brandon-coin-lawsuit-nascar/|access-date=July 12, 2022|archive-date=July 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713193550/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/lets-go-brandon-coin-lawsuit-nascar/|url-status=live}}</ref>