NASCAR drivers display strong support for Wallace

Racing world in shock after noose found in garage of circuit’s lone Black driver

NASCAR drivers, crew members and other team members displayed solidarity with Bubba Wallace on Monday, one day after a noose was found in the garage of the circuit’s only Black driver.

Wallace’s No. 43 car was at the top of pit row prior to the start of Monday’s Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, with the other driver pushing the car, along with the other members of their teams in a long procession.

Numerous drivers and team members greeted Wallace with either a hug, a handshake or a pat on the back.

In the race itself, Ryan Blaney edged Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in overtime to win the rain-postponed event.

Wallace ran near the front of the field for a good chunk of the event, and with 28 laps to go, took the lead.

He finished 14th. He ran out of fuel on the final lap.

“The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things (emotionally) I’ve ever had to witness in my life,” Wallace said after the race on the Fox broadcast while fighting back tears. “From all of the (support) from drivers, crew members, the bad-ass fan base ... it’s truly incredible and I’m proud to be a part of this sport. I have a long way to go, but we’ll keep on trucking. Another top-15 finish for us. We’ll take it.”

Before the race, Wallace was overcome with emotions, and he leaned his head on the top of his car as team owner Richard Petty came over to pat him on the arm and say a few words.

Wallace tweeted a selfie of himself in front of the car just before the start of the race. He wrote “Together.”

The sport was rocked on Sunday night when NASCAR announced a noose had been found in Wallace’s garage, with the organizing body vowing to conduct an aggressive investigation and eliminate the culprit from the sport.

“The sport is changing,” Wallace said on Fox. “The deal that happened (Sunday) ... I’m sorry I’m not wearing my (protective coronavirus) mask, but I wanted to show whoever it was that you’re not going to take away my smile and I’m going to keep on going.”

The FBI joined the investigation on Monday.

Wallace was greatly disturbed Sunday night when he released a statement about the incident.

“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,” Wallace said.

“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, our spirit has made a commitment to driving real change and championing a community that is accepting and welcoming of 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’re 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.”

Monday’s show of support occurred hours after Wallace’s team members inspected the No. 43 car inside and out to make sure there had been no tampering, according to Fox track reporter Jamie Little.

#Istandwithbubba was painted on to the tri-oval grass at Talladega.

Veteran NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson was one of the drivers highly supportive of Wallace, as well as upset by the noose incident.

“Everybody knows this is a big family in the garage area,” Johnson told Fox just prior to the start of the race.

“The news really has disturbed us all. We want justice in a sense — we want to understand who and why and all of those things — but until those answers are answered, we want to stand with our friend. We want to stand with Bubba.”

Fox analyst Jeff Gordon, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, pulled no punches in describing how upset he was by the incident.

“I’m just furious,” Gordon said on the broadcast.

“I’m saddened by what Bubba Wallace is having to endure and the pain this is causing him and so many others.

“But I do know this: We saw this (show of support) and that’s one of the most powerful emotional moments that I’ve ever had leading into a race. That this garage area is going to stand together and be strong and stronger than ever as that message continues to be sent.”

Petty, the legendary racer who runs Richard Petty Motorsports, also was irate.

“The sick person who perpetrated this act must be found, exposed, and swiftly and immediately expelled from NASCAR,” he said in a statement.

NASCAR OK’D Talladega to permit 5,000 fans to attend the event and watch from the grandstands.

Monday’s race was the ninth in NASCAR’S top-level Cup Series since the coronavirus pandemic put the series on hiatus from midmarch to mid-may.

On Sunday, an airplane flew over Talladega pulling a large Confederate flag and a banner that read, “Defund NASCAR.” There also was a rolling protest just outside the grounds of the raceway, with vehicles parading Confederate flags.

Wallace has said that, in the wake of his call for NASCAR to ban the flag, he has received messages of support, including from some people who say they’re following the sport for the first time. However, he has also been the subject of considerable anger and even threats, he told the Washington Post recently.

“They see me as somebody who’s tearing down their heritage,” Wallace said of those angry about the ban. “But we’re not trying to close the door on you; we’re opening the door to many others that want to be a part of this sport.”

While sharing NASCAR’S statement about the discovery of the noose, Cup Series driver Michael Mcdowell tweeted Sunday, “God help us. The level of evil it takes to do something like this is disgusting. This is enraging and heartbreaking all at the same time.”

Driver Jimmie Johnson tweeted that he couldn’t “begin to fathom the pain this action has caused. I stand with you, @Bubbawallace.”

Former driver Michael Waltrip echoed that hashtag.

“God created us equal. I will never understand how some people don’t believe that. The stupid hatefulness that happened yesterday is disgusting. I know @NASCAR will oust this idiot. Go win today @Bubbawallace. I’ll be cheering you on. #Istandwithbubba”

Winning driver Ryan Blaney tweeted before the race that Wallace is “my brother and always will be. Don’t let the people who are lower than life to try to bring you down. They won’t scare you because you’re strong. I stand with you pal. Forever.”