KANSAS CITY, KS - OCTOBER 19: Jimmie Johnson, driver of the #48 Lowe's for Pros Chevrolet, prepares to drive during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 19, 2018 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)
NASCAR drivers drop helmet painter over social comments
Shane Walters
Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch are all looking for a new helmet painter
NASCAR has made several announcements regarding racial equality this week. Kneeling or other protests are now allowed during the National Anthem.
NASCAR President Steve Phelps stopped the cars on the track at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He then cued into the driver audio channels announcing that the sport needs to do better.
The next week, Bubba Wallace called for the next steps to be a banning of the Confederate flag. NASCAR reacted by doing just that.
Additionally, NASCAR removed a line in the rule book that required NASCAR members to stand during the National Anthem. This has opened the door for protests during the Anthem.
On Wednesday night, Bubba Wallace entered the grid at Martinsville Speedway in a Black Lives Matter car. All of the above took place in 4 days.
Not everyone has reacted calmly to the changes. And there’s been more fallout…
Beam Designs
NASCAR Truck Series driver Ray Ciccarelli announced he would be quitting the sport after 2020.
BEAM Designs via twitter: “Dropping like flies just like Nascars sponsors and fanbase have down the lastfew years, wonder why?”
BEAM Designs: “You can’t erase history by picking and choosing what parts you want to keep and don’t won’t to keep, doesn’t change what happened. Slavery was abolished in 1865, 155 years ago, why are we using a flag from 155 yrs ago to justify support for equality today?”
Beam Designs: “Sad day in racing watching NASCAR put their drivers and teams and their sport in the political spotlight of racism.”
Beam Designs: “North vs South in the Civil War, a war over separation of the Union, not slavery. But hey ignorance wins again, Steve you realize the North had slaves too, lol not just the South, you should remove the American Flag as well then, huh pure ignorance.”
BD: “Sorry I don’t agree that supporting one specific race or color is a solution to stopping racism. That’s my opinion, you have yours. Thanks.”
BD: “If the message was “Black Lives Matter Too” I would feel differently, because they do and ALL Lives Matter, that’s why I steer clear of singling out just one.”
Bubba Wallace comments
Bubba Wallace previously used Beam Designs, as recently as two years ago.
As Bubba Wallace announced the Black Lives Matter car, the company account responded via twitter with a thumbs down and called the new paint scheme, “Garbage.”
Fans soon began pointing out NASCAR drivers that use BEAM Designs. They also requested those drivers look at new helmet painters like, R Star designs.
Later, NASCAR announced the ban of the Confederate flag. Beam Designs responded to a tweet from Bubba Wallace.
BEAM Designs via twitter: “Thank You NASCAR and Bubba Wallace, I fully support the removal of the confederate flag. will rise above the challenges of equality.”
Bubba Wallace had already taken notice.
Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch drop Beam Designs
Fans continued to encourage drivers to drop Beam Designs.
BEAM Designs via twitter: “Nice try, check back tomorrow, next week and the week after will be posting pics of more new Helmets we are working on for Jimmie Johnson and many others, they don’t let opinions on history get under their skin #BeBetter”
But, drivers have since dropped Beam. Multiple drivers announced via twitter.
Jimmie Johnson is a 7-time NASCAR Cup Series champion. Ryan Blaney is a close friend to Bubba Wallace. Joey Logano, teammate to Ryan Blaney, also announced he’d be taking his business elsewhere.
Beam Designs on Johnson: “Been a great run, much respect to you Jimmie, you’re an icon and legend that has etched an amazing career for the history books !!!”
Beam Designs on Blaney: “It was a great run buddy, you’re a class act and I respect your decision. Cheers to many years of success coming your way. @Blaney“
There was no tweet to announce it, but Kyle Busch has reportedly also dropped Beam Designs.
Beam Designs has seen a backlash. But, they’ve also seen support. Beam stated the account picked up thousands of twitter followers in recent days.