The noose found hanging in Bubba Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway in America had been there since at least last October, federal authorities said in announcing there will be no charges filed in an incident that rocked NASCAR and its only full-time black driver.
US lawyer Jay Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. said an investigation determined “although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week”.
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 23, 2020
A crew member for Richard Petty Motorsports discovered the noose at the Alabama racetrack on Monday (AEDT). NASCAR was alerted and contacted the FBI, which sent 15 agents to the track to investigate. They determined no federal crime was committed.
A statement said the garage stall was assigned to Wallace last week in advance of the race which was scheduled for Monday (AEDT), but held on Tuesday because of rain.
Through video confirmed by NASCAR, it was discovered the noose “was in that garage as early as October 2019”. The agencies said the evidence did not support federal charges.
Wallace successfully pushed NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its venues less than two weeks ago. There has been criticism of the ban by some longtime fans and security had been stepped up for Wallace, a 26-year-old Alabama native who in the last month has worn a shirt over his firesuit that read “I Can’t Breathe”.
His paint scheme for a race in Virginia was “Black Lives Matter”, showing support for the push for racial equality which has gained huge traction following the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
NASCAR said in a statement: “The FBI report concludes, and photographic evidence confirms, that the garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose had been positioned there since as early as last fall. This was obviously well before the 43 team’s arrival and garage assignment.”
Very, very relieved this Bubba Wallace situation turned out to not be what we feared it was. Frustrated NASCAR went through all this over a garage door pull. Nothing changes the fact that Talladega remains a nexus for the type of fan the sport needs to leave behind.
— David Caraviello (@dcaraviello) June 23, 2020
The Wood Brothers Racing team said one of its employees informed the team he recalled “seeing a tied handle in the garage pull down rope from last fall”, when NASCAR raced at Talladega in October.
The team said it immediately alerted NASCAR and assisted the investigation.
The discovery of the noose stunned NASCAR as it is taking an active position in a push for inclusion while distancing itself from its rocky racial history. The series first tried to ban the Confederate flag five years ago but did nothing to enforce the order.
Two weeks ago, Wallace renewed the call for a ban and NASCAR answered but has yet to detail how it will stop the flag being displayed.
Talladega marked the first race fans were permitted to attend since the coronavirus pandemic hit as 5000 supporters were granted access.
NASCAR announced on Monday the noose had been discovered and the industry rallied around Wallace. All 39 of his rival drivers and their crews helped push Wallace’s car to the front of pit road before the national anthem yesterday and stood behind him in solidarity.
Wallace was joined by his team owner, Hall of Famer Richard Petty, who gently placed a hand on Wallace’s shoulder as he sobbed. After the race Wallace went to the fencing along the grandstands and greeted supporters.
“The sport is changing,” he said.
- AP