STANDING WITH BUBBA
‘ENRAGED’ NASCAR GETS BEHIND WALLACE AFTER NOOSE FOUND IN HIS GARAGE
NASCAR rallied around driver Bubba Wallace on Monday. Then he nearly rallied to victory.
A day after a noose was discovered hanging in his stall at Talladega Superspeedway ahead of the Geico 500, drivers showed their solidarity by pushing Wallace’s No. 43 Chevrolet to the front of the field. It was an emotional display that involved team members walking behind the vehicle as it made its way to the starting line, where Wallace was in the No. 24 position.
“Together,” Wallace tweeted, along with a photo of his fellow racers standing together.
Wallace, the circuit’s only fulltime Black driver, has led racing’s movement to ban Confederate flags from racing events.
Sunday night’s incident drew a strong rebuke from the racing community, including NASCAR legend and Wallace’s team owner Richard Petty.
“I’m enraged by the act of some
one placing a noose in the garage stall of my race team,” Petty, 82, said in a statement. “There is absolutely no place in our sport or our society for racism. This filthy act serves as a reminder of how far we still have to go to eradicate racial prejudice and it galvanizes my resolve to use the resources of the Richard Petty Motorsports to create change.
“The sick person who perpetrated this act must be found, exposed, and swiftly and immediately expelled from NASCAR. I believe in my heart this despicable act is not representative of the competitors I see each day in the NASCAR garage area. I stand shoulder to shoulder with Bubba, yesterday, today, tomorrow and every day forward.”
Petty met with Wallace before the race and embraced his racer in a show of solidarity.
Wallace surged to third, but ran out of fuel with less than five laps to go.
“I know I should have won that damn race, but ran out of gas. Just the stars didn’t align for us completely, but all in all, we won today. The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I ever had to witness in my life,” an emotional Wallace said on FOX after finishing 14th. “From all the supporters from drivers from crew members and everyone here, the bad-ass fan base — thank you guys for coming out here — it’s truly incredible and I’m proud to be part of this sport.”
Wallace walked over to the stands and greeted about a dozen fans (5,000 paying fans were allowed at the track), mostly African-Americans wearing shirts with messages supporting Black Live Matters.
“This is probably the most badass moment right here,” Wallace said. “Been tough, been hell. I wouldn’t say hell, just been hectic — carrying this weight, carrying this burden. I wouldn’t say burden either. I’m proud to stand where I’m at and carry a new face.
“The sport is changing. The deal that happened [Sunday], sorry I’m not wearing my mask, but I wanted to show whoever it was that you’re not going to take away my smile.”
The FBI, along with NASCAR, launched an official investigation into the incident at the Alabama racetrack. They also permitted the No. 43 team to inspect Wallace’s car Monday morning to ensure it wasn’t tampered with overnight while it was impounded.
“We are angry and outraged and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act,” NASCAR said in a statement.
Ryan Blaney, who nipped Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in a wild finish for the win, referred to Wallace as his “brother” and wrote a supportive note on Twitter as well.
“You’re my brother and always will be,” he said. “Don’t let the people who are lower than life to try and bring you down. They won’t scare you because you’re strong. I stand with you pal. Forever.”