Noose found in Wallace’s garage

TALLADEGA, Ala. — NASCAR said late Sunday that a noose was found in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace at the NASCAR race in Talladega.

Wallace is the only fulltime Black driver in NASCAR’s elite Cup Series. Two weeks ago, he successfully pushed for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and properties.

NASCAR said it has launched an immediate investigation into the noose. The series says it was “outraged” and said there is no place for racism in NASCAR.

Although no Confederate flags flew inside the speedway, most fans likely passed dozens of people outside the track proudly displaying the Southern symbol, some flying them from pickup trucks. There was also a plane pulling a Confederate flag with the words “Defund NASCAR”

The flags are still for sale across the street. NASCAR hasn’t disclosed how it will handle fans flying flags.

With the most fans allowed into a NASCAR race during the Coronavirus pandemic it put the spotlight on the flag ban. There weren’t any immediate reports of how many, if any, flags were confiscated or taken down at the venue.

NASCAR two weeks ago said it would ban the Confederate flag at its tracks and venues following a call from Wallace. The ban was not tested last week at a track near Miami, where 1,000 military members attended the race. This weekend was seen as a much bigger challenge in the heart of the South with up to 5,000 fans allowed in and a relatively small number of RVs cleared to camp nearby.

The ban drew informal protests Saturday and Sunday alike, with cars and pickup trucks driving along nearby roads flying the flag and parading past the entrance to the superspeedway, along with the plane.

NASCAR did not acknowledged the plane or its banner, though executive Steve O’Donnell Tweeted a picture of black and white hands shaking: “You won’t see a photo of a jackass flying a flag over the track here…but you will see this…Hope EVERYONE enjoys the race today.”

Rapper Ice Cube even tweeted about the plane saying, “[Expletive] him NASCAR, you got new fans in this household.”

The race was pushed back to today because of heavy rain and lightning. But before the rain came, the scene was a dramatic departure from the Talladega norm.

“It’s weird. It’s eerie,” said David Radvansky, 32, from suburban Atlanta, who brought his wife and boys, 3 and 6.

Radvansky, who started coming to Talladega in the 1990s when his father parked cars at races, applauded NASCAR’s decision to ban the Confederate flags.

“I don’t think there’s a place for it in NASCAR, to be honest with you,” the 32-year-old said. “That doesn’t sit well with all the good ole boys but it is what it is.”

Fans had to go through screening and wear masks to get in for the race, though a few were walking around inside without theirs on. But lines seemed to flow quickly and the sun was shining until about an hour before the race, when rain and lightning started.

Bathrooms had arrows directing patrons which way to enter or exit, and attendants lined the way holding signs urging them to “please wear your masks.”

Directly across from the track, Ed Sugg’s merchandise tent flew Confederate flags prominently in a display alongside Trump for 2020 banners and an American flag.

“They’re doing very well,” said the Helena, Ala. resident, who has been selling an array of wares at NASCAR races for 21 years.

“People are disappointed that NASCAR has taken that stance. It’s been around for as long as all of us have been. I don’t think anybody really connects it to any kind of racism or anything. It’s just a Southern thing. It’s transparent. It’s just a heritage thing.”