LINCOLN, Ala. — NASCAR is investigating a noose found in the garage of Bubba Wallace Saturday at Talladega Super Speedway.
Wallace, who is black, said on Twitter he’s “incredibly saddened” and called it a “despicable act of racism. He added that it serves as a reminder of how much further we have to go as a society.
“Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43-team,” NASCAR said in an emailed statement. “We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act.”
It’s not clear how someone managed to get the noose inside the Richard Petty Racing stable at the Alabama racing track.
“We have launched an immediate investigation, and will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport,” NASCAR continued. “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.”
Last week NASCAR put its foot down and banned the display of the Confederate flag at all NASCAR sanctioned events. The decision was praised by many pushing for the equal treatment of African-Americans not just in NASCAR but in society in general.
However, the decision did not come without criticism and even led to one driver/owner, Ray Ciccarelli, in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series to say he would not be returning next season because of it.
Earlier in the day on Sunday, a Confederate flag was seen flying from a plane with the words “defund NASCAR,” over the track in Lincoln, Alabama.
NASCAR has not said how it plans to stop fans from displaying the flag at events as it begins to allow them back into tracks.
