NASCAR has confirmed that a noose was found in Bubba Wallace’s garage during Sunday’s race at Talladega, Alabama.
Key points:
- Black driver Bubba Wallace has six top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series
- He has been speaking out recently in the wake of the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement.
- Wallace led a push for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag on its tracks and properties
Wallace is the only black driver competing full-time in NASCAR’s elite Cup Series.
Two weeks ago, he successfully lobbied for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag on its tracks and properties.
NASCAR released a statement announcing it had launched an immediate investigation.
“We are angry and outraged, and we cannot make it clear enough how seriously we take this heinous act,” NASCAR said in the statement.
“(We) will do everything possible to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport.
“As we have unequivocally stated, there is no place for racism in NASCAR, and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.”
Despite the ban on Confederate flags, the symbol of the South was still for sale across the street from Talladega Motor Speedway, and a plane flew over town pulling a banner of the flag, with the words “Defund NASCAR.”
Bubba Wallace is the only black driver competing full-time in NASCAR’s Elite Cup Series. (AP: Brynn Anderson)
Wallace launched his campaign to ban the Confederate flag following the death of unarmed black man George Floyd in Minneapolis last month, which led to widespread protests against police brutality.
Wallace, an Alabama native, wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the words “I Can’t Breathe, Black Lives Matter” before a June 7 NASCAR race.
He acknowledged the racist incident at Talladega in a social media post.
“Today’s despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and a painful reminder of how much further we must go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism,” Wallace said.
“Over the past few weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the support from people across the NASCAR industry, including other drivers and team members in the garage.
“Together, our sport is committed to driving real change and championing a community that accepts and welcomes everyone.
“Nothing is more important and we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hatred.
“As my mother said to me today: ‘They’re just trying to scare you.’
“It won’t break me, I won’t give in, and I won’t back down. I will continue to proudly stand up for what I believe in.“
The Confederate flag is considered by some to be a symbol of the heritage of the American South and a memorial to the Civil War. (AP: Terry Renna, archive photo)
AP/ABC
