Anyone who has been paying any attention to anything in American culture is fully aware of politics seeping into sports. This is part of a sociological trend of polarization that has been occurring during the 21st century. While it should never be a problem for individuals to utilize their freedom of speech, it seems like there have been efforts to censor individual political speech when it comes to the world of sports. I recently spoke about this topic with William Hulett who has operated the Freedom Fire Truck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway since 2021.
Unfortunately, Hulett’s Freedom Fire Truck was not at the 2024 spring race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Shortly after a patriotic display outside the 2024 Super Bowl, Hulett was informed of its cancellation. As a result of the cancellation, William Hulett reached out to me via Elon Musk’s social media app, X. He was never informed of the reasoning for the sudden and unexpected cancellation. Furthermore, he was not sure if NASCAR or the Speedway had knowledge of the situation. He believes it may have just been a business partner that cancelled the appearance. Hulett doesn’t believe that NASCAR or Las Vegas Motor Speedway would do anything so anti-Free Speech.
Understandably, Hulett wants his story told. After speaking with him on-the-record, it is safe to say that it is clear to him (as it is to myself as well) that there is something of an anti-American trend going on within our culture. Mr. Hulett considers himself an open-minded American patriot who believes strongly in our constitution, especially our first and second amendment rights.
Cancel Culture within Sports
Lately, politics have increasingly encroached upon the world of American sports. This goes beyond individuals utilizing their first amendment right and freedom of expression. Freedom of expression has been going on for some time in America. It is part of what makes this country great. I am talking much more about a very negative type of politics. Specifically, I am talking about censorship and cancel culture.
NASCAR has not been exempt from this alarming trend. Last year, Noah Gragson was suspended by NASCAR, and fired from Legacy Motor Club for merely clicking a “thumbs up” on social media. Honestly, that seemed pretty extreme to me. Regardless, Gragson did what he had to do and moved on. Still, it does seem like everyone must walk on egg shells.
Do we really want to have cancel-culture happening in NASCAR? Perhaps, it is just something the entire culture is going through, and one day it will go away. Yes, star athletes can handle it. Look no further than Kyle Larson to see how NASCAR allows its athletes a path back into the sport. Still, how does it affect the everyday fan or other individuals involved in the sport?
Show-Talent Productions and The Freedom Fire Truck
William Hulett previously worked with Cirque du Soleil for 15 years, and during the course of his time there he purchased the Freedom Fire Truck because it was a great production tool to have. (This can be seen in the image above.) Currently, he, his wife, and business partners run Show Talent Productions. Hulett informed me that NASCAR had been looking to expand their audience, and this led to the Freedom Fire Truck being scheduled at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
The Freedom Fire Truck was utilized in this fashion outside the track and in the Fan Zone starting in 2021. Furthermore, private shows were put on for big sponsors using the Freedom Fire Truck. Show Talent Productions definitely was able to bring an artistic Cirque du Soleil aspect to the patriotism that is always on display at NASCAR events.
The Patriotic Display Outside the Super Bowl
While Hulett had NFL credentials for the Super Bowl, they were not utilized in his patriotic display right at the entrance to Allegiant Stadium. He had driven the Freedom Fire Truck to the Terrible Herbst on Polaris and Russell. A business partner at Show Talent Productions had asked him to bring some batteries to the stadium, and he had needed to test the hydraulics on the fire truck.
There had just happened to be a Bud Light event at this Terrible Herbst. Hulett informed me that the Freedom Fire Truck had Bud Light stickers on it for several months, as he had been working on spoofing the situation with Bud Light not understanding their consumer base. He asked security if it was fine to have the fire truck there, and got permission to raise the flag on the ladder. Hulett also had a dummy AR-15 at the bottom of the flag (pictured below). The AR-15 had been engraved in order to be presented to American mixed martial artist Sean Strickland.
After gaining permission from security, Hulett then raised the ladder and bucket 80 feet into the air. The flag and AR-15 stayed up there for approximately 15 minutes and then was lowered. Once again, Hulett states that he did not utilize his NFL credentials to do this patriotic display. Furthermore, he had permission from the security there. The display was outside of the entrance to the Super Bowl, and was completed without incident.
The FalloutÂ
Later, a business partner contacted Hulett and was upset. This business partner happens to be English, so Hulett assumed that he did not quite understand how American first and second amendment rights work. According to Hulett, this business partner was actually very angry and thought that Hulett could have been arrested. Long story short, Hulett informed me that not only did the business partner tell him that he had his NFL credentials pulled, but that the Freedom Fire Truck had also been cancelled for the Las Vegas Motor Speedway event.
The business partner claimed that it was Steve Beyer Productions who was responsible for the cancellation. Hulett stated that it was Steve Beyer who worked directly with the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Still, at the time of my on-the-record phone conversation with Hulett, he had not gotten this information directly from anyone at NASCAR or Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Looking back on it, Hulett informed me that he believes that his business partner who handles the booking, may have just informed Beyer that there was a problem with the fire truck.
Hulett stated that even his wife was a bit upset with him for this patriotic display. She didn’t understand why he had to raise the flag with a gun at the bottom of it. Hulett said, “The NFL has been working against American interests for far too long.” For him, this was an expression of resistance against the direction our nation is headed.
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, one of the best things about the United States of America, is our constitution. Freedom of expression is one of our most important rights. I have to agree with William Hulett here. This right seems to be under attack from pro-censorship trends such as cancel culture. We have moved away from a culture where people who disagreed with each other would defend each other’s right to express differing opinions. Now everyone seems quick to take offense. Suddenly, we fight to silence anything or anyone we disagree with.
I don’t know who was behind the cancellation of the Freedom Fire Truck for the spring race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Hulett doesn’t either. Still, it is very troubling that we currently live in a time where such a thing was even possible. Hulett informed me that Las Vegas Locally had taken a picture of the display and placed it on X. Ultimately, he stated that they took the post down. He felt this was due to it getting too many positive responses.
William Hulett doesn’t believe that the track or NASCAR knew anything about the cancellation. That very well may be the case. As someone who has followed NASCAR since the mid-90’s, however, I can’t honestly say that I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. Cancel culture seems to have expanded to cover just about every aspect of our society. Hopefully, Hulett is correct, and the Freedom Fire Truck will be at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway during the next race weekend.
