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Title: Bubba Wallace on emotional race and show of support: 'Sport is changing'
Source:
espn
URL Source: https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/ ... alladega-support-bubba-wallace
Published: Jun 22, 2020
Author: ESPN News Services
Post Date: 2020-06-22 23:04:46 by Gatlin
Keywords: None
Views: 559
Comments: 6
Bubba Wallace said "the sport is changing" in front of a horde of NASCAR fans, many of whom were wearing "Black Lives Matter" and "I Can't Breathe" T-shirts, after an emotional race Monday at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Wallace, NASCAR's only Black full-time driver, was joined by all 39 other drivers and their crews in a march down pit road as they pushed his No. 43 to the front of the line in the moments before the race. The gesture came one day after a noose was found in his garage stall. When they reached the front line, Wallace climbed out of his car and wept. If not for a shortage of fuel, Wallace might have had a chance to race for the win. A late stop for gas led to a 14th-place finish but felt like a win for Wallace. He went to the fence and slapped hands through the wiring with a group of fans as they cheered. He apologized for not wearing a mandatory mask but didn't put it on because "I wanted to show whoever it was, you are not going to take away my smile.'' "This sport is changing,'' he said. "The pre-race deal was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to witness in my life. From all the supporters, from drivers to crew members, everybody here, the bad-ass fan base, thank you guys for coming out. This is truly incredible and I'm glad to be a part of this sport.'' Ryan Blaney, who won Monday's race in a photo finish, said Wallace has been one of his best friends for 15 years and called the pre-race show of support a special moment. "And it showed how you're not gonna scare (Wallace); you're not gonna scare him," Blaney told ESPN's Scott Van Pelt. "He's really strong; he's gonna rise above it, and fight this. "So we just wanted to show our support; I wanted to show my support for my best friend. He's just been someone I've really, really loved for a long time; and I'm gonna support him 100% along the way for many years to come. I hope a lot of people will look at that and learn from -- everyone coming together and supporting each other; that's what it's gonna take to make things better." The idea for the gesture came up earlier Monday. Jimmie Johnson said in a drivers chat that he would stand with Wallace during the national anthem. Then, Kevin Harvick had the idea that they should have the drivers push Wallace's car to the front. "I'm happy to play a role in it; I want to; I know I need to," Johnson said after his 13th-place finish. "And I feel like to see the garage area stand up as they have as well in the last few weeks, and then again today, is sending a very strong message; and I'm very proud of our sport." Standing alongside Wallace for the national anthem was Richard Petty, the 82- year-old Hall of Fame driver known as "The King.'' Wallace drives the No. 43 Chevrolet for Petty, who issued a scathing rebuke after the noose was found that called for the "sick person'' to be expelled from NASCAR forever -- a move NASCAR president Steve Phelps insisted would happen should they be caught. 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." This marks the first race Petty has attended since the sport was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Apparent noose found at Sonoma NASCAR track NASCAR says noose found in Wallace's garage Wallace two weeks ago successfully pushed NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its venues, though the sanctioning body has not outlined plans on how it will enforce the restriction. Disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the Alabama race track prior to Sunday's race, while a plane flew above the track pulling a banner of the flag that read "Defund NASCAR." Hours after the race was postponed by rain, NASCAR said the noose had been found. The sanctioning body vowed to do everything possible to find who was responsible and "eliminate them from the sport." Wallace said in a statement Sunday that he was "incredibly saddened" by the act. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said she was "shocked and appalled'' by the "vile act'' against Wallace, an Alabama native. "There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state,'' Ivey said. "Bubba Wallace is one of us; he is a native of Mobile and on behalf of all Alabamians, I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state.'' Talladega County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore said NASCAR contacted the FBI, which was handling the investigation. The FBI field office in Birmingham did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press. Officials at Sonoma Raceway in California said Monday they are looking into what could be a similar incident after "a piece of twine tied in what appeared to be a noose" was found "hanging from a tree on raceway property" on Saturday. The track's president said the incident is also under investigation by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Department. After Monday's race at Talladega Superspeedway, Aric Almirola, who finished third, said he was speechless when he found out that a noose had been found in Wallace's garage stall. "So you see people lash out and show signs of evil and darkness, and it just comes from a bad place," Almirola said. "And I think the most important thing you can respond with that, is light and love. And showing how to stand up and how to show positivity, and have a heart. And I feel like, as an industry, that's what we did today. Former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. also took to Twitter to offer his support for Wallace in the wake of Sunday's incident: I don’t worry about our sport. I have confidence NASCAR’s leadership will find who did this and continue pushing us in the right direction. I do worry about Bubba. I hope Bubba is feeling loved and supported. Keep sending him that love and support. He needs it now more than ever. Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1's only Black driver and its reigning champion, also offered his support via Instagram. "It's disgusting that this is happening, stay safe and alert out there bro," Hamilton wrote. "Supporting you from afar, proud of you." After the race Monday, Wallace said he's going to "keep on truckin'" and looks forward to racing at Pocono Raceway next weekend. "Hey, I'm still smiling. Long week ahead of me -- probably a couple weeks, probably a couple months. ...So I'll be ready for Pocono." Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
show of support: 'Sport is changing'
Workers also painted "#IStandWithBubbaWallace'' on the infield grass before Monday's race, which was postponed from Sunday because of inclement weather.
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#1. To: Liberator, Stoner, sneakypete, A K A Stone, Fred Mertz, Hank Rearden (#0)
In order to make the sport even less racist, NASCAR will probably change the rules, you know to make it fair for minorities. Bubba (and other black drivers) should be allowed to have a larger fuel tank and have the white drivers start ten laps behind to penalize them for their "white privilege" Maybe a special pre-race ceremony where the white drivers beg forgiveness from Bubba because their great-granddaddy used the N-word.
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. Well, personally, I never was a big NASCAR fan any way. I really don't care what they do ! I really do not like when big organizations begin pandering, to any body, for any reason. Like NASCAR, Chick Fil A, etc! Either they stick to their beliefs, or to hell with them !!!
Si vis pacem, para bellum Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." (Will Rogers) "No one ever rescues an old dog. They lay in a cage until they die. PLEASE save one. None of us wants to die cold and alone... --Dennis Olson " People that say money can't buy you happiness, have never paid an adoption fee
I find it more than a little odd that we have yet to see a photo of this alleged "noose".
Government is in the last resort the employment of armed men, of policemen, gendarmes, soldiers, prison guards, and hangmen. Great find, Deckard.
That is great Deck !!! Great job !!! I am sooo sick of all this racist crap !!!!
Si vis pacem, para bellum Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God. "If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." (Will Rogers) "No one ever rescues an old dog. They lay in a cage until they die. PLEASE save one. None of us wants to die cold and alone... --Dennis Olson " People that say money can't buy you happiness, have never paid an adoption fee
If not for a shortage of fuel, Wallace might have had a chance to race for the win. A late stop for gas led to a 14th-place finish but felt like a win for Wallace.
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#2. To: Deckard (#1)
" In order to make the sport even less racist, NASCAR will probably change the rules, you know to make it fair for minorities. "
#3. To: Deckard (#1)
#4. To: Hank Rearden (#3)
(Edited)
I find it more than a little odd that we have yet to see a photo of this alleged "noose".
The essential feature of government is the enforcement of its decrees by beating, killing, and imprisoning.
Those who are asking for more government interference are asking ultimately for more compulsion and less freedom.
#5. To: Deckard (#4)
#6. To: Deckard (#4)
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