By Jerry Jordan, Editor
TALLADEGA, Al. – The Birmingham office of the FBI conducting an investigation separately from NASCAR involving a noose being found in the garage stall of Bubba Wallace at Talladega Superspeedway and officials say they will use every tool possible to determine who is responsible and bring them to justice.
“Late yesterday afternoon a crew member from the 43 team discovered a noose in the 43 garage stall,” said NASCAR President Steve Phelps. “That crew member informed NASCAR. NASCAR security got involved. I got a small group of senior leaders in the sport at NASCAR together to try to determine what the next steps would be. First thing was to launch an immediate investigation into this heinous act. As part of that, we this morning at 7:30 notified the Birmingham office of the FBI. They are currently on-site. They’ve started their investigation.
“We are, as I said, in the early stages of this. We will continue to keep the media informed as we learn more. Obviously, this is a very, very serious act. We take it as such. We will do everything in our power to make sure that whoever has committed this act comes to justice and comes to light and we rid this type of behavior from our sport.”
Wallace, who is the only African American driver at NASCAR’s pinnacle level, has been outspoken about the Black Lives Matter movement – running their message on his car recently at Talladega. He also spoke out against the Confederate Flag and lauded NASCAR for its June 10 ban of the divisive symbol from its racetracks. Over the weekend at Talladega, a small group of protesters have driven pass the speedway waving the flag from their vehicles. Additionally, on Sunday, a banner plane pulled the flag behind it with a banner that read “Defund NASCAR.”
Phelps would not go into details of the investigation into the noose incident but he confirmed, “the director of the FBI has informed the Birmingham office to use all their resources to find out, as well, all the resources available to NASCAR, the FBI.”
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic access to the garage area is limited to essential employees and everyone is supposed to go through screening before entering the infield tunnel along the backstretch. That leaves a very finite number of people, who are all checked off on a list, that have access to the infield and garage area.
“The U.S. Attorney’s office for the Northern District of Alabama, FBI and the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division are reviewing the situation surrounding the noose that was found in Bubba Wallace’s garage to determine whether there are violations of federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Jay E. Town. “Regardless of whether federal charges can be brought, this type of action has no place in our society.”
Although there are numerous cameras throughout the newly renovated garage at Talladega, as well as, cameras belonging to teams in their garage stalls, Phelps would not confirm what information NASCAR or law enforcement officials have yet been able to review. He promised to provide additional updates and was adamant whoever left the noose would be banned from NASCAR for life.
“We’re not going to get into the specifics about the number of cameras, what is on the cameras, how many,” Phelps said. “We will collect all that information. It will be obviously part of what the FBI is looking at. Again, as details become available that we can share, we will share. But too early to get into specifics around video usage or what we were able to capture on video.
“Unequivocally they will be banned from this sport for life. here is no room for this at all. We won’t tolerate it. They won’t be here. I don’t care who they are, they will not be here.”
According to Phelps, Wallace didn’t know about the noose until he went to tell him.
“I have spoken to Bubba,” Phelps said. “In fact, I’m the one that informed Bubba that this act had happened. It’s a difficult moment for Bubba. It’s a difficult moment for me. He’s handled it with the grace that he has handled everything that’s happened over the last few weeks.”
Phelps added he is personally offended by some on social media, who are claiming that NASCAR staged the noose incident.
“I can’t speak for those on social media who would say this is a staged event,” he said. “I would say that is something that personally offends me. This is a terrible, terrible act that has happened. For those who would think this is staged, I don’t even know where to go with that frankly.”
In a show of unity and support for Wallace, NASCAR’s drivers pushed Wallace’s No. 42 Chevrolet to the front of the field as crewmembers and officials walked with them. It was a powerful moment of unity that showed how even though drivers can be fierce competitors on the track, they will stand up for each other when one is attacked.
Perhaps Clint Bowyer said it best in a tweet, “I do this because he’s family, our @NASCAR family!!! It’s hard for me to comprehend all this, but one thing is for sure … When you f*ck with family you’re f*cking with us all.”
I’ll race with him on Sunday and ride with him on a Monday. I do this because he’s family, our @NASCAR family!!! It’s hard for me to comprehend all this, but one thing is for sure…When you f*ck with family you’re f*cking with us all. @BubbaWallace #ivealwaysstoodwithbubba pic.twitter.com/e6pDDmXu6J
— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) June 22, 2020
Wow, update. It was not a “noose” – it was a loop on the garage door for easier grasping/opening. Watch how quickly the media will get away from this, as they clearly should be embarrassed by their hypersensitive reaction, thinking they had found something. What a load of s#1t stirring. BTW – my place of employment has loops on several of the roll up doors from the manufacturer. Ridiculous!!