On Monday, dozens of fellow NASCAR drivers teamed up to help push driver Bubba Wallace’s race car to the front of the Geico 500 field at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, following reports of a noose allegedly being found hanging from Wallace’s garage stall the day before.
“Wallace was surrounded by all 39 other drivers in the moments before the race, and they were joined by their crews in a march down pit road as they pushed his No. 43 to the front of the line,” ESPN reported Monday. “Wallace climbed out of his car and wept.”
NASCAR drivers and crew supported Bubba Wallace before today's race by joining together to push his car to the front of the field
(via @BubbaWallace) pic.twitter.com/CeukY2Wn1A
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 22, 2020
Wallace, who is black, took to Twitter following the moving gesture and captioned a photo of himself and his fellow drivers with the caption: “Together.”
Together pic.twitter.com/D4zW3jA5y5
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) June 22, 2020
During the national anthem, Hall of Fame driver Richard Petty stood alongside Wallace.
“Sources told ESPN’s Marty Smith that Petty decided to travel to Talladega after the noose was found and that he said the ‘most important thing for me right now is hugging my driver,'” the ESPN report said. “This marks the first race Petty has attended since the sport was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.”
As noted by The Wall Street Journal on Monday, “just a small number of racing personnel had access” to the area where the noose was reportedly found on Sunday, according to NASCAR.
“Steve Phelps, Nascar’s president said a crew member on Wallace’s team found the noose late Sunday afternoon,” the Journal noted. “Phelps said he had personally informed Wallace of what had happened.”
In a statement posted Sunday night, Wallace said he was “incredibly saddened” by the alleged act.
“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,” the statement said.
“Over the last several weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the support from people across the NASCAR industry,” Wallace continued, “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,” he continued. “Nothing is more important and we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hate.”
Wallace added, “As my mother told me today, ‘They are 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.”
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) June 22, 2020
“This is a very, very serious act and we take it as such,” NASCAR head Phelps said of the alleged incident, noting that the perp would be “unequivocally” banned from NASCAR for life, “I don’t care who they are.”
WATCH:
Bubba Wallace was emotional as fellow NASCAR drivers and crew members helped push his car.
Powerful.
(via @NASCARONFOX) pic.twitter.com/id2Z5hiMoV
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 22, 2020
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