President Donald Trump tweeted yesterday that he was proud of Nascar because no drivers, crew or other team members protested during the US national anthem on Sunday prior to a race at New Hampshire Motorspeedway.

“So proud of Nascar and its supporters and fans. They won’t put up with disrespecting our country or our flag — they said it loud and clear,” Trump tweeted.

Several team owners and executives had said Sunday they wouldn’t want anyone in their organisations to protest. Richard Childress, who was racer Dale Earnhardt’s longtime team owner, said of protesting: “It’ll get you a ride on a Greyhound bus.”

Childress said he told his team that “anybody that works for me should respect the country we live in. So many people gave their lives for it. This is America.”

Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty’s sentiments took it a step further, saying: “Anybody that don’t stand up for the anthem oughta be out of the country. Period. What got ’em where they’re at? The United States.”

When asked if a protester at Richard Petty Motorsports would be fired, he said: “You’re right.”

Nascar chair Brian France created a firestorm in the sport when he endorsed Trump last year. France’s efforts to quell criticism over what he insisted was a “personal and private” decision were complicated by Trump’s continued mentioning of how he received “Nascar’s endorsement.”

Dale Earnhardt Jnr, Nascar’s most popular driver who will retire at the end of the season, tweeted yesterday in support of peaceful protest.

“All Americans [are] granted rights [to] peaceful protests. Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable — JFK,” he wrote.

After Trump drew sports into politics in an unprecedented manner, more than 200 NFL players knelt or sat on a bench or raised a fist or, in the case of most of the Pittsburgh Steelers, remained indoors as the anthem echoed through stadiums on Sunday. A week ago, half a dozen players protested..

But it was business as usual in Nascar.