For the first time in NASCAR history, there were no Confederate flags flying inside of the NASCAR Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway on Monday, June 22, where a noose was found a day earlier hanging in the stall of its only Black driver, Bubba Wallace.
Two weeks ago, NASCAR announced it was removing the Confederate flag from all of its events, an act that incited the flying of a plane above the track on Monday with a Confederate flag banner reading, “Defund NASCAR.”
NASCAR made its announcement on June 10 after Bubba Wallace made headlines when he painted the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag on his race car in support of the protests over the police killing in Minneapolis of George Floyd.
Before Monday’s race, NASCAR drivers galvanized support for Wallace by pushing his No. 43 Chevrolet car to the front of the track, as the FBI began its investigation into the racist act.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement Monday, ”I am shocked and appalled to hear of yesterday’s vile act against Bubba Wallace in Talladega — there is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state.”
