Kay Ivey asks NASCAR community to rally around Bubba Wallace; Joey Logano adds, ‘No baby is born racist, it’s taught.’
This weekend, NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace is competing in his home state of Alabama. He isn’t feeling a warm welcoming home. Instead, he’s been greeted with a horrible act of racism.
Last night, NASCAR announced that a noose was discovered over the garage stall of the No. 43 at Talladega Superspeedway. The car is driven by Wallace, the only African-American driver in the NASCAR Cup Series.
NASCAR has launched an investigation with the help of the FBI. Criminal action in addition to an obvious NASCAR suspension could be in place given the situation.
Related: FBI investigating noose hung in NASCAR garage
This comes just weeks after NASCAR banned the Confederate flag from all events and properties. The sport also removed rules that previously required members to stand for the National Anthem, opening the door for kneeling protests.
A wide range of disagreement has surfaced following the ban of the Confederate flag. This including yesterday’s actions as a plane pulled a banner with the Confederate flag and the phrase, “Defund NASCAR.”
Related: Plane pulls Confederate flag over Talladega Superspeedway ahead of NASCAR race (VIDEO)
This morning, the Governor of Alabama issued a statement following last night’s racist actions.
Related: Bubba Wallace and NASCAR comment following the discovery of a noose in Talladega
Gov. Kay Ivey comments
“I am shocked and appalled to hear of yesterday’s vile act against Bubba Wallace in Talladega, the statement opened from Governor Kay Ivey.
“There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state. Racism and threats of this nature will not be condoned nor tolerated, and I commit to assisting in any way possible to ensure that the person responsible for this is caught and punished.”
“While the important conversation of racial reconciliation is ongoing all over our country, it is clear there is much work to do.”
“Bubba Wallace is one of us; he is a native of Mobile and on behalf of all Alabamians, I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state.”
“I ask the NASCAR family to rally around Bubba and his team as they compete today and I know that there are more people who are wishing him well today than ever before,” Ivey concluded.
Due to the virus, the number of NASCAR fans in attendance this weekend is limited. Access to the garage is also limited to team, series and track personnel.
Related: NASCAR driver Brandon Brown has released a crew member following ‘blatant racism’
Joey Logano comments on the racist act
Logano is the driver of the No. 22 in the NASCAR Cup Series. He commented:
“I woke up to the news of somebody putting a noose in Bubba Wallace’s garage,” Joey Logano opened in the social media video.
“If I’m being honest, I am so mad and angry, it took me a minute to even figure out what to say. Because, my emotions are high about this.”
“I cannot believe the hate that someone can have in their heart to put a device that kills people in someone’s garage because of the color of his skin or what he stands for.”
“Fix your heart. How in the world can you have that much hate in your life that you are willing to do something like that.”
“Put politics aside, put everything else aside, choose love. Darrell Wallace, other minorities in our sport, they have friends, families, hearts and thoughts. Just like anybody else, we need to stand beside them.”
“It’s that simple. No baby is born racist, it’s taught. Just think about that,” Logano concluded.
Related: NASCAR driver Brandon Brown has released a crew member following ‘blatant racism’
Notes
Sunday’s race was postponed. The green flag is set to drop on Monday afternoon for the event.
Under special circumstances, NASCAR is allowing the team to check the No. 43 car this morning as it might have been tampered with.
We’re expected to see some kind of support from the entire field of NASCAR Cup Series drivers regarding Bubba Wallace. It’s unclear what this will be but it’s likely to air during the pre-race show.
Related: NASCAR community comments after noose discovered in the garage
Links
Alabama Governor | Bubba Wallace | Joey Logano | NASCAR | Talladega Superspeedway
Related
NASCAR launches investigation of noose hung over Bubba Wallace’s car at Talladega Superspeedway
FBI investigating noose hung in NASCAR garage
FBI concludes noose investigation from Talladega NASCAR race; It’s been there since October 2019
Richard Petty wants person who hung noose to be ‘exposed’; NASCAR adds details