By Jerry Jordan, Editor
TALLADEGA, Al. – NASCAR has launched an intensive investigation into who left a hangman’s style noose in the garage stall of the No. 43 car, which is driven by Bubba Wallace – the sport’s sole African American driver in the Cup Series.
“Late this afternoon, NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43 team,” read a statement released by the sanctioning body at 9:44 p.m. “We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act. We have launched an immediate investigation, and will do everything we can to identify the person(s) responsible and eliminate them from the sport. 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.”
Wallace posted his response to Twitter saying he isn’t intimidated and they “will not break me” by whoever was behind the insidious 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,” he said. “Over the last several weeks, I have been overwhelmed by the support from people across the NASCAR industry 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. Nothing is more important and we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hate. 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.”
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) June 22, 2020
A statement released by Richard Petty Motorsports reads, “We, Richard Petty Motorsports, are aware of the situation and are working together with NASCAR to gather the facts as quickly as possible. We are extremely concerned about the situation at the Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway and are cooperating fully. As this situation is under active investigation, we are limited in what information we can share right now, but we intend to provide additional information as soon as we can.
“Wallace is focusing on preparation for the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) event at the Talladega Superspeedway …”
RPM said that Wallace will not be conducting interviews Monday, either before or after the race and will return to North Carolina at the conclusion of the 500-mile event.
The news comes after two days of protests outside and above the track, where Confederate Flags were flown from pickups and motorcycles. An airplane flew around the track, on Sunday, carrying a Confederate Flag and a trailing banner that read, “Defund NASCAR.”
Protesters, who spoke with Kickin’ the Tires, on Saturday, said they were upset that NASCAR had banned the divisive symbol from races across the country because they viewed it as “heritage.”
“Who are they to tell us what flag we can fly,” asked Sean Boggen, of Georgia.
He was with the group of roughly 20 protesters parading in front of the racetrack.
“Our southern heritage has been pushed to death and we are tired of it,” Burdette told Kickin’ the Tires, as those in the background cheered when passersby honked in support. “NASCAR is going to be a thing of the past. They are taking everything out for what it stands for. It was put together by rednecks, moonshiners and hillbillies”
While I agree that there is no place for a noose to be presented in a racial manner I am sick of an entire sport being profiled by the act of one individual. This perception that NASCAR has been a racist organization since the beginning is pure hogwash. I almost think that this view has been propagated by other sports to take attention away from their racism. Look at it. First black Ml baseball player 1947, first black player in NBA 1950 and the best one the first black Washington Redskin 1961. Keep in mind there were no major league sports teams in the south until the late 1960’s. In fact I black players did not stay in the same hotels as white players into at least the late ‘50’s. I’ve been attending races since 1952 from New York to Fla. I have never once witnessed racism at a race track. Fact of the matter is that black folks do not attend oval track races in any real numbers. This applies to local race tracks as well as the big NASCAR tracks. They’re just not into it. They are into drag racing. I know Wendell Scott had some problems but I haven’t read anywhere that he was ever denied entry to race in a NASCAR event. He won a NASCAR track championship.
The flag protesters at Talladega yesterday have been profiled as racists. This is bullshit. It was about southern heritage and freedom of speech. The media is creating this controversy. They thrive on it.
There should be camera every where should not be hard to figure it out?????