On Sunday, the Black NASCAR driver who successfully pushed for the popular stock car series to ban the Confederate flag found a noose in his stall as a reward for his efforts.
The noose was found in Bubba Wallace’s stall at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama on the same day supporters of the Confederate symbol waved the flag outside the racing venue despite the ban. Also, before Sunday’s race was postponed to Monday because of inclement weather, a plane flew above the track towing a banner of a Confederate flag reading “Defund NASCAR.”
Here is a view that shows where the Confederate flag is flying with the message “Defund NASCAR” pic.twitter.com/4tQpUnJxfh
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) June 21, 2020
NASCAR did not formally address the plane or its banner, though executive VP Steve O’Donnell did tweet a picture as a response.
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. pic.twitter.com/ppwP1ggNjt
— Steve O'Donnell (@odsteve) June 21, 2020
NASCAR also released a statement on Monday morning about the discovery of the noose in Wallace’s stall.
“We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act,” the series said in a statement. “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.”
The racing series also pledged to find out who was responsible for leaving the noose in Wallace’s stall and “eliminate” them from the sport.
Twenty-six-year-old Wallace, NASCAR’s only Black driver and an outspoken supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, also released a statement on Sunday evening.
“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 wrote on Twitter. “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.”
LeBron James, who has consistently been outspoken about social justice issues, offered his support to Wallace on social media.
Sickening! @BubbaWallace my brother! Know you don’t stand alone! I’m right here with you as well as every other athlete. I just want to continue to say how proud I am of you for continuing to take a stand for change here in America and sports! @NASCAR I salute you as well! 🙏🏾✊🏾👑 https://t.co/1TwkjVHai5
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 22, 2020
Racing legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. also offered his support to Wallace on Twitter.
Hope Bubba wins it tomorrow.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) June 22, 2020
I don’t worry about our sport. I have confidence NASCAR’s leadership will find who did this and continue pushing us in the right direction. I do worry about Bubba. I hope Bubba is feeling loved and supported. Keep sending him that love and support. He needs it now more than ever.
— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) June 22, 2020
Set to start at 3 p.m. ET, Monday’s rescheduled race will be the first in which NASCAR will open the gates for up to 5,000 fans.
UPDATE
Following the FBI’s investigation into the matter, it was determined that a hate crime had not been committed and that the rope which was found hanging in Wallace’s stall had been there since at least the fall.
#BREAKING: DOJ and FBI announce that there was NOT a noose planted Sunday in Bubba Wallace's garage space at Talladega. Rather, it was a rope that had been there perhaps going back to the fall and not an act of racism against him in reaction to BLM or the Confederate flag #NASCAR
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) June 23, 2020
Apologies for not knowing who originally created this image, but it has been making the rounds on Twitter and turned out to be correct. You can see in the left photo the rope was in noose form — apparently as a handle — last year and then cut for evidence Sunday. pic.twitter.com/MIrtF3uqtN
— Jeff Gluck (@jeff_gluck) June 23, 2020
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