High school coach has resigned after racist tweets to Darrell Wallace Jr
On Wednesday, Nottestad responded to several tweets from 2018 NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace. The future Richard Petty Motorsports driver is set to become the first full-time African-American NASCAR Cup Series driver since 1971.
“There is only 1 driver from an African American background at the top level of our sport..I am the 1. You’re not gonna stop hearing about “the black driver” for years. Embrace it, accept it and enjoy the journey..,” was the tweet from Bubba Wallace that sparked a response.
Read the tweets below.
What Brent Nottestad say?
Nottestad responded to the pinned tweet that Bubba Wallace wrote about his Grandma, “Granny Jan die in a police shooting?”
He then responded to another tweet from Bubba, “Hey @BubbaWallace. Please quit with, ‘I’m black’ bs. You’re terrible. There are 1423 more credible drivers to get that ride than you.”
He then responded to a photo tweet of Bubba Wallace standing with a fan, “Almost looks like going to the zoo.”
Bubba Wallace responds
Wow, I feel truly sorry for your kids. Again..to have so much hate towards somebody you’ve never met. Hope your kids grow up to be the exact opposite of a father you are..,” Wallace stated via a twitter post.
“You’re a smart guy? a disgusting but smart guy right? This makes you look pathetic and weak, it’s sad. You said what you meant and now worried about the repercussions..that I pray to God will happen. Oh and my granny hopes so too,” he concluded with another tweet an hour later.
School Statement
On Thursday, Nottestad resigned from his position as a school golf coach. School District of Cambridge administrator Bernie Nikolay issued a statement:
“The Cambridge School District was made aware of several offensive comments made on social media by Cambridge High School boys’ golf coach, Brent Nottestad. After a meeting between Mr. Nottestad and school district officials this morning, Mr. Nottestad resigned his position with the district, effective immediately. As this is a personnel matter, no other statements or comments will be forthcoming from the school district.”
Richard Petty Motorsports Statement
“When we announced Bubba, I spoke to my good friend Hank Aaron, who is also from Mobile, [Alabama]. We both were keeping our fingers crossed we would never again see racist comments like what Hank went through when he was approaching breaking Babe Ruth’s record,” Murstein said. “Thus I was very sorry to hear about those recent tweets. In Hank’s days, they were letters that were mailed to him and in today’s times they are tweets, but the message is the same,” co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports, Andrew Murstein stated.
“Bubba is a great driver, and we are really excited to have him on our team and driving the 43 car,” Murstein said. “Our team recognizes talent first, and that is displayed through our array of drivers, such as our future star driver Bubba and our current driver who is of Hispanic descent.
“Bubba is not only smart, charismatic and talented but has the potential and the skills to one day compete to be the first African-American NASCAR champion,” Murstein concluded.
In 2018, Bubba Wallace will drive the Click n’ Close #43 for Richard Petty Motorsports.
Brent Nottestad
“I wish I could go back in time but I can’t,” Nottestad told ESPN. “I honestly don’t know what I was thinking. Perhaps trying to be a tough guy behind a computer screen? I don’t know.”
“I have driven the axe further into the civil rights fight when we are trying to remove it as a country. I am so sorry for what I’ve done. I am going to reach out to Bubba soon. I don’t expect him to forgive me, but I gotta give it a shot,” he concluded.
The tweets have since been deleted. Below is a screenshot before they were removed.
Links
Brent Nottestad | Darrell Wallace Jr | Click n’ Close | Richard Petty Motorsports | NASCAR
