NASCAR stirred up controversy this week when officials announced that fans should turn over their confederate flags for the Stars and Stripes, but some fans are still showing up with their flags.

"We have the stars and bars...But the tallest flag out there is the stars and stripes. The way it ought to be,” said local NASCAR fan Jim Higginbotham.



Higginbotham said he’s proud to be American and a southerner.

"I see that flag I don't see racism at all I see southern pride,” he said.

Higginbotham isn't alone. Hundreds of flags were flying high above the crowds at the Daytona International Speedway. Some of the flags read "Heritage not Hate" on the front.



Speedway officials did offer to swap stars and bars for stars and stripes, but the Speedway didn't collect any on Friday and didn’t say if they collected any on the Fourth.

"I think they are getting rid of a little bit of history... But frankly it is the 4th of July so if we are going to fly any flag why not just the American flag?" said local NASCAR fan Steve Laszlo.

Both flags were flying high this Fourth of July. Some fans also told News 13 it's time to put the flag aside in a museum.

Still, fans like Higginbotham said he won't support the speedway if they continue to discourage the use of the Confederate flag.

"A lot of people won't come out here because they have said they won't bow to NASCAR. They've shot themselves in the foot is what they've done,” he said.

Earlier this week several fans said they weren't coming because of NASCAR's stance on the stars and bars. They said they will just have to wait and see what happens next year.