NASCAR, sports world throw support behind Bubba Wallace after noose found in garage

From LeBron James to Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sports world is standing with Bubba Wallace.

Late Sunday night, NASCAR announced that a noose was found in Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. and the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports team’s garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. NASCAR said it’s “angry and outraged,” and it immediately opened an investigation to find who did it “and eliminate them from the sport.”

The Cup Series’ GEICO 500 was scheduled for Sunday afternoon, but rain forced the race to be postponed until Monday (3 p.m. ET, FOX).

Minutes after NASCAR broke the news, Wallace reacted with his own message on Twitter. Calling it a “despicable act of racism and hatred,” the 26-year-old No. 43 Chevrolet driver said he was “incredibly saddened” but refuses to be silenced as he helps lead NASCAR’s recent commitment to fighting racism.

“Nothing is more important and we will not be deterred by the reprehensible actions of those who seek to spread hate,” Wallace wrote, in part. “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.”

As people on Twitter reacted with similar outrage and horror, the NASCAR and general sports world are standing with Wallace, and people ranging from Dale Earnhardt Jr. to LeBron James to Billie Jean King, athletes and fans are sharing their support for him, including unquestionably rooting for him to win Monday’s rain-delayed GEICO 500.

The 2020 GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway is Monday at 3 p.m. ET on FOX.

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