TALLADEGA, Ala. — The lone Black driver of the NASCAR Cup Series, Bubba Wallace, has found himself back in the spotlight after strongly advocating just a couple weeks prior for NASCAR to ban displays of the confederate flag.
But this time, the spotlight is amplifying what appears to be a targeted act of racism against Wallace.
Late on June 21, NASCAR released a statement in regards to an investigation into what they called a “heinous act,” whereby somebody placed a noose in Wallace’s garage stall.
Wallace, 26, has been seen sporting clothes that support the Black Lives Matter movement while staunchly urging NASCAR to ban displays of the confederate flag, a decision which was officially made on June 10. In light of the investigation into the noose, Wallace addressed the act in a tweet late Sunday night.
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) June 22, 2020
The GEICO 500 had been planned for June 21 at the Talladega Superspeedway but was eventually postponed until June 22 at 3 p.m. EST due to thunderstorms. The event had been set to become a beginning for fans to return to events following the coronavirus pandemic’s recently loosened restrictions, with reports of upwards of 5,000 had shown up for the rain-postponed event.
This is a developing story.
Contact Zach at zach.hill@thebaynet.com