MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - JUNE 10: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet, wears a "I Can't Breath - Black Lives Matter" t-shirt under his firesuit in solidarity with protesters around the world taking to the streets after the death of George Floyd on May 25, stands next to his car painted with "Compassion, Love, Understanding" prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on June 10, 2020 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
NASCAR launches investigation of noose hung over Bubba Wallace’s car at Talladega Superspeedway
Shane Walters
A noose has been hung over the car of NASCAR’s only African-America driver at Talladega Superspeedway; NASCAR and Bubba Wallace issue statements
Last week, Bubba Wallace encouraged change within the NASCAR community. He declared in a CNN interview that the next step for NASCAR to take would be a ban on the Confederate flag.
Days later, NASCAR did just that. The sport has banned the Confederate flag from all events and properties.
That same day, Bubba Wallace entered the race at Martinsville Speedway without a sponsor. The team used the lack of sponsorship to place ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the machine.
Fast forward, this weekend the sport has landed at Talladega Superspeedway. The race in Talladega, Alabama was scheduled to take place today but has been postponed due to rain.
Ahead of the Sunday race, a plane flew over the speedway carrying a Confederate flag. A message was also attached to the banner with the phrase, “Defund NASCAR.”
Tonight, the cars were impounded. They remain in the garage in anticipation of tomorrow’s postponed event.
However, someone has snuck into the garage area and hung a noose around the No. 43 car. The car is driven by the only African-America driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, Bubba Wallace.
It’s noteworthy that fans have been allowed to the track, limited to 5,000. However, they are excluded from the garage area.
Someone within the NASCAR community has committed this horrible act of racism.
Bubba Wallace statement as noose hangs over his car
“Today’s despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism,” Bubba Wallace opened in a social media statement.
“Over the last several weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the support from people across the NASCAR industry including other drivers and team members in the garage.”
“Together, out sport has made a commitment to driving real change and championing a community that is accepting and welcoming to everyone. Nothing is more important and we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hate.”
“As my mother told me today, ‘They are just trying to scare you.’ “
“This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in,” Wallace concluded.
“Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43 team. We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act,” NASCAR opened in a statement.
“We have launched an immediate investigation, and will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport.”
“As we have stated unequivocally, there is no place for racism in NASCAR, and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all,” the NASCAR statement concluded.