NASCAR launches probe of ‘heinous act’ against Wallace

A noose was found hanging in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace’s No. 43 team Sunday, NASCAR announced in a late-night statement.

The news capped a day in which a Confederate flag flew over Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama and many others lined the streets leading into the track in defiance of NASCAR’S banning of the Confederate flag at all of its tracks and events.

According to a statement NASCAR released late Sunday night, the circuit is launching an immediate investigation into who put the noose in Wallace’s stall.

Wallace is the only black driver on NASCAR’S premier Cup Series and the leading voice behind the sport’s push for racial equality and the banning of the Confederate

flag.

“Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43 team. We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act. We have launched an immediate investigation, and will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport. As we have stated unequivocally, there is no place for racism in NASCAR, and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.”

Shortly after NASCAR made the announcement, Wallace issued his own statement: “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. 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 sport 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 are 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.”

Sunday’s scheduled GEICO 500 was eventually pushed back to Monday because of inclement weather.