NC dirt track lists ‘Bubba rope’ for sale mocking NASCAR’s noose; Track dropped by series and sponsors

A North Carolina dirt track listed ‘Bubba Rope’ for sale; After the FBI announced the noose found in a NASCAR garage wasn’t a hate crime against Bubba Wallace

Weeks ago, Bubba Wallace encouraged the sport to ban the Confederate flag. After that CNN interview, NASCAR made the bold decision to ban Confederate flags from all events and properties.

Bubba Wallace then entered the race at Martinsville Speedway with a Black Lives Matter livery as the team lacked a sponsor for the event.

A day before the race Talladega last week, a noose was found in a tree on the property of Sonoma Raceway. Hours before the race at Talladega, a plane carrying the Confederate flag with the message “Defund NASCAR” flew over Talladega Superspeedway.

Related: A noose was also hung at Sonoma Raceway

Related: Plane pulls Confederate flag over Talladega Superspeedway ahead of NASCAR race (VIDEO)

Noose at Talladega

Shortly after those two acts, Richard Petty Motorsports found a noose in their garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway. It was installed on the garage pull of the No. 4 stall at the track.

This was spotted in heightened times in the garage stall of NASCAR’s only African-American driver.

NASCAR alerted the FBI. 15 agents rolled into the Alabama track to conduct an investigation of a possible hate crime.

Days after Talladega, the FBI and a separate NASCAR investigation came to a close. It was discovered that the noose was in that garage stall since at least October 2019.

Thus, it wasn’t a hate crime targeted at Bubba Wallace. NASCAR errored on the side of caution to protect their driver.

This caused fans of the sport to react negatively toward Bubba Wallace. Many drew the assumption that the driver or NASCAR fabricated the entire thing. They made comparisons to Jussie Smollett who famously faked a hate crime in 2019.

Related: FBI concludes noose investigation from Talladega NASCAR race; It’s been there since October 2019

Noose in garage stall of Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway
Noose in garage stall of Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway

311 Speedway sells Bubba rope

Shortly after NASCAR and the FBI released their findings from the investigation, the owner 311 Motor Speedway added an item to the Facebook Marketplace. ‘Bubba Rope’ was listed for $9.99.

“Buy your Bubba Rope today for only $9.99 each, they come with a lifetime warranty and work great,” the Marketplace ad read.

No image was posted with the listing.

It remains unclear if the post was created for parody or if any items would actually be distributed. The track recently hosted events where Confederate flags and Trump banners were distributed.

The marketplace item was created by Mike Fulp, the owner of the North Carolina dirt track. Immediately, the post received a negative reaction.

It was soon deleted from the Marketplace. But, the news grabbed national headlines across mainstream media channels.

The track also stated any fan who kneeled during the National Anthem at the speedway would be forced to leave the facility.

Days later, the fallout has continued from the marketplace listing. The track has now lost a sponsor and a racing series has removed two dates from the track.

Related: Bubba Wallace is ‘pissed off’ that NASCAR fans draw hoax assumptions regarding noose

Carolina Sprint Tour
Carolina Sprint Tour
Carolina Sprint Tour drops 311

The Carolina Sprint Tour will not be visiting the speedway in 2020:

“After much discussion with our officials, a few drivers and teams — We at TriboDyn Lubricants Carolina Sprint Tour have made the dicision to withdraw our events from 311 Speedway for the remainder of the 2020 season,” the series statement read.

The statement continued, “We do not condone nor support the comments and posts that have been made the past week. We will not put our sponsors, IMCA Racing, series, drivers, teams, owners, fans or families in a negative light such as what’s happened recently.”

“We will be working diligently to fill in the dates of July 25th and September 26th at other venues.”

“2020 has been a year to test us all and we can’t wait for 2021 to arrive! If any tracks would like to take the dates listed above please reach out to Mike Sellers or Sean Vardell.”

The dirt racing series was scheduled to visit 311 Motor Speedway on July 25 and Sept. 26.

Loflin Concrete drops 311

Loflin Concrete had banners placed around the track as part of an advertising campaign. They are now asking for those banners to be removed.

“Standing for what you believe is often different than being known for what you are against,” a facebook post from the company read.

“Sometimes just being against something in principle or belief is just not enough. Words must lead to action sometimes. This is one of those times. We have cut all ties with 311 speedway.”

“There has been a request earlier in the week that all signage and referance to our company be completely removed from the track and all media.”

“These words and actions are intended to show that we are more than against racism, but anti-racism. Whenever we choose to be anti anything, we don’t allow it in our midst and call it out to eradicate it. When we choose to listen but not condemn certain topics, we give the fire oxygen to survive.”

“we stand in opposition of this form of hate we call racism, in hope that we can be part of making a difference to better our communities. Imagine standing by as a bystander watching someone beat a child and simply say, ‘I’m against child abuse.’ “

“It’s well past time for us to stand united as one people with multiple perspectives that all condemn hate in any form,” the statement concluded.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and NAACP addresses 311 Motor Speedway

Famously, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper took on Ace Speedway amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Following a day in court, the track was forced to close after several events where they packed thousands into the grandstands.

Now, the actions of another North Carolina track, 311 Motor Speedway, have the attention of the Governor as well.

“This incident of racism is horrific and shameful,” Ford Porter, Copper’s spokesman, stated to RockinghamNow.com.

“North Carolina is better than this.”

The statement also spoke on grandstand attendance, “As to the operation of the raceway, the mass gathering limit should be enforced by local authorities to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

NAACP chapter president Jeff Crisp said he’s considering charges against the track owner.

“It is horrible that someone would post something of that nature,” Crisp told the Winston-Salem Journal..

Links

311 Motor Speedway | Carolina Sprint Tour | FBI | Bubba Wallace | NASCAR | Talladega Superspeedway

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