Racecourse promoter apologizes for backing racist announcer rant

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Southern Minnesota motor racing announcer to be sidelined for the remainder of the season following racist rant in Iowa last month

By Associated Press

July 30, 2021, 19:42

3 minutes to read

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FAIRMONT, Minn. – A motor racing announcer in southern Minnesota is out for the remainder of the season following a racist rant he made at a side concert in Iowa last month and the track promoter from Minnesota who supported him apologizes now.

Fairmont Raceway promoter Jon McCorkell in southern Minnesota said he was sorry for comments he made in favor of longtime announcer Lon Oelke. Oelke was fired on his side at an Iowa racetrack last month after complaining about people refusing to defend the national anthem to take a stand against racial inequality.

McCorkell initially defended Oelke and said he would support him at Fairmont. But now he says he has learned a lot about the issues behind the protest. The racetrack has said Oelke will take time off for the remainder of the season, the Star Tribune reported.

I realize I cannot withdraw or correct what I said, but I would like to say I was wrong and I am sorry for the comments I made last week, McCorkell said in a statement published by the Raceway.

I have spoken to many people on these issues over the past few days, McCorkell said. I learned a lot about the deepest underlying issues for a lot of people.

I guess I’ve learned that you can’t always just look at things from your own perspective. Sometimes you have to keep an open mind and try to see what things look like from someone else’s perspective.

The Fairmont track also canceled its Friday night race card, saying recent rains had made the track unsuitable for racing.

Earlier this month, Oelke was announcing a race at Kossuth County Speedway in Algona, Iowa, when he said he wanted to make a public service announcement. .

I have four words for you: Find another country if you don’t, he said. Get out of Dodge. He also criticized the NFL’s plans to play Lift Every Voice and Sing, often referred to as the Black National Anthem, before games this season.

He said his remarks were for those people, I guess the darker skin color, I’ll just say, black people. They want a different national anthem and the NFL is considering doing it. I’m just saying turn off the televisions and let them play in front of no one.

McCorkell initially backed Oelke, saying the announcer would receive a standing ovation the next time he was in Fairmont, a town of 10,000 people 130 miles (210 kilometers) southwest of the Twin Cities. But last Friday there was no standing ovation or special recognition for Oelke.

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