Tag: Bubba Wallace

Dale Jr., Kyle Busch and NASCAR’s biggest stars release video about fighting racism, inequality

NASCAR’s biggest names made a video about fighting racism through listening and education.

Following nearly two weeks of protests around the United States and the world against police brutality and for justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery, among so many others, some of the biggest names in NASCAR created a video explaining how they plan to combat racial injustice.

Drivers who participated in the video include Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. — the only black driver in the NASCAR Cup Series — Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Daniel Suárez. For some, like Busch, Harvick and Truex, this is the first substantial comment they’ve made on social media about the protests, police brutality or racism in the last couple weeks.

Tweeted by several drivers less than an hour before Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, their collective statement acknowledges how listening and education are critical and early steps in fighting racism.

Many tweeted some variation of the caption: “I will listen and learn,” while some added #BlackLivesMatter.

This is a transcript of the statement the drivers made in the video:

“We’re no strangers to moving fast. And we know how life can have that same quality. But now is the time to slow down and reflect. The events of recent weeks highlighted the work we still need to do as a nation to condemn racial inequality and racism. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and countless others in the black community are heartbreaking and can no longer be ignored.

“The process begins with us listening and learning because understanding the problem is the first step in fixing it. We are committed to listening with empathy and with an open heart to better educate ourselves. We will use this education to advocate for change in our nation, our communities and, most importantly, in our own homes, even after the headlines go away.

“All of our voices, they make a difference, no matter how big or how small. It is all of our responsibility to no longer be silent. We just can’t stay silent. We have a long road ahead of us, but let’s commit to make that journey together. Our differences should not divide us. It is our love for all mankind that will unite us as we work together to make real change.”

Prior to the start of Sunday’s race while on pit road, Wallace was also wearing an American flag mask and a black t-shirt with “I Can’t Breathe” and “Black Lives Matter” written on it.

The video is part of NASCAR’s plan Sunday to address the protests against racial injustices. Before the 325-lap, 500.5-mile race begins, there will be a moment of silence, and a statement from NASCAR president Steve Phelps also will be shown on the FOX broadcast, followed by the video from drivers, per the NASCAR pool report.

Prior to engines starting, FOX also showed this previously recorded interview with Wallace and a statement from driver turned broadcaster Jeff Gordon. The national anthem — still virtually done because of the coronavirus pandemic — was also performed by 12-year-old Keedron Bryant, a gospel singer who went viral a couple weeks ago for singing an emotional song following Floyd’s death.

Here’s a sample of some drivers’ tweets with the video about fighting racism:

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Bubba Wallace reveals what he told Chase Elliott about speaking up against injustice

Bubba Wallace said he urged his fellow competitors to share how they feel about social issues, and gave a great example to Chase Elliott.

Bubba Wallace, the only black driver in NASCAR’s top series, was one of the very few NASCAR drivers to make a public statement in the days after the death of George Floyd, and told Dale Earnhardt Jr. that he was furious after NASCAR’s most recent race that so many of his competitors chose to remain silent on the incident that has sparked protests across the globe.

During an appearance on the Dale Jr. Download podcast, Wallace said that he urged his peers in a group text to step up and share their feelings about injustice, reminding some of the biggest stars in the sport that they have the platform and power to make a meaningful impact across their fanbases. Wallace revealed the message he sent to Chase Elliott, one of the most popular drivers in the sport, urging the young star to take a stand.

“I wouldn’t want to be the guy that went out and won the championship in a horrible year but never made a comment on the issues we are dealing with in our society…. I get that we’ve got it tough. We’ve got to worry about sponsors. We’ve got to worry about teams and all that stuff. But that has shifted for me. And maybe I’m wrong for thinking like this, but I don’t give a damn what anybody says – I’m going to get my message across and how I feel, and how things should be changed in this world to make it better for everybody to be included. Inclusion is so important. And I’m not worrying about what sponsors think, I’m not worrying about what the team thinks for once. And that’s where maybe people are like ‘it’s just a tough subject to comment on.’ I get that. I get that. You’re white, it’s tough. You don’t understand it.

Still, I told Chase Elliott this…. I texted him last night. I said ‘hey man, you’re the biggest name in our sport right now, bud. Like it or not, you’re the biggest name. And your voice carries over much more than mine in our sport.’ I said ‘don’t be silent on this, please. Don’t let it go under wraps.’ And he was like, ‘I know, it’s tough to comment on, I’ve been trying to come up with something.’ And he said ‘what’s really going to change?’ I said, ‘Chase, I don’t know, but I’m thinking about this. Imagine a follower, two followers that you have. One is a person that is going to go hate somebody, go kill somebody today. And the other one is somebody who is getting discriminated against. Imagine you saying something and both of those people look at that and they’re like ‘wow, that changed who I am today. I’m not going to hate on anybody anymore, and I’m not going to allow to be discriminated against anymore. I’m going to stand up for what’s right. Imagine your words changing somebody else’s life.'”

Though Elliott has not tweeted any statement about Floyd’s death, he did participate in #BlackoutTuesday.

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NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace shares painful, childhood story about police shooting his cousin

Bubba Wallace opened up on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast about racism, discrimination and his own experience with police.

NASCAR driver Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. joined this week’s episode of the Dale Jr. Download podcast and spoke about race in the sport and fellow drivers speaking out — or not – about racial injustices and police brutality.

In addition to talking with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and podcast co-host Mike Davis about his reaction to Ahmaud Arbery being fatally shot while jogging in Georgia and Kyle Larson using the N-word in April, Wallace opened up about some ways in which he’s been discriminated against.

He also shared the story of police shooting his cousin in 2003. The 26-year-old driver of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet said he first talked to his mom about sharing this story “because I wanted to bring it up.”

Wallace was nine years old when he was at his sister’s basketball tournament, although he said he can’t remember where exactly. He explained on the Dale Jr. Download:

“I was running around the gym with all the other brothers and sisters there, and all of a sudden, I hear a scream — like the worst scream that you’d want to hear. Not like a somebody-scared-you scream, like something bad had just happened. And I look over and I see my mom running out the door, and we had just found out my cousin had been shot and killed by a police officer. Unarmed.

“And so I was young. I didn’t understand it. We lost a family member. But now seeing everything come full circle, I totally get it now.”

He continued to share the story of the shooting and said it stemmed from a white store clerk feeling threatened by a group of black people.

“They had just left somewhere — a football game or something. He was [19], and they all went to a gas station here in Knoxville, Tennessee. Playing loud music, it was a whole crowd, a hang-out spot. … But the store clerk, who happened to be white, felt threatened that there was more African Americans and that something bad was going to happen. So she called the cops, and the police officer had ordered my cousin, Sean, to put his hands up, and he did.

“And then that officer walked away, and [my cousin] went to grab his phone to call his mom because he was scared and was shot and killed from the other police officer. And it’s like all because people were having a good time, not bothering somebody but somehow, people are afraid. Why are you afraid of black people? That’s just the thing I don’t understand. Like, we’re minding our own business, we’re having a good time, and somebody’s life was taken, and it happened to my family member. And I’ve never shared that story.

“I remember in fourth grade, I was crying, I had gotten let out of class for it. But now, truly understanding it, it definitely hurts a lot more now that I can decipher what really went on into it. [They] said he was reaching for a gun and he wasn’t. So that’s tough. I’ve dealt with that. That’s indirectly, but it’s family.”

From a legal standpoint, Wallace did not mention more specifics about what happened after his cousin was killed. But NBC Sports reported that a judge eventually cleared the officer in the shooting, and the family lost a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Knoxville.

However, Wallace did then open up about one of his experiences with police profiling him. More from the Alabama native on the Dale Jr. Download:

“I’ve dealt with my struggles, you know, directly of getting pulled up at stoplights … and having guns drawn — not pointed at me but they’re out of their holster ready to do something. And that moment, being pulled out in front of and turning on your hazards is a sign that you’re slow and I need to go around you. But when it’s undercover cops, you can’t do that. And when it’s tinted windows, they don’t know what to expect, so they’re ready for anything. So one wrong move, I wouldn’t be here talking to you today.

“And then the comments after — and this is where we can help so many people — it’s the comments that they made towards me that piss me off the most. ‘Can you afford this car? This is a nice car.’ And I said, ‘Yes, sir, I can.’

“And what I wanted to say is, ‘Yeah, I’ll have you one here Monday, I’ll have your momma here one on Tuesday and I’ll have the rest of your family [one] here on Wednesday because that’s how much money I make.’ But I didn’t. I let it go because one wrong move, because I’m black, could have had me on the pavement saying, ‘I can’t breathe.'”

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Only 3 NASCAR drivers have spoken up about George Floyd and police brutality

So far, Bubba Wallace, Daniel Suárez and Ty Dillon are the only NASCAR drivers to talk about George Floyd on social media.

Warning: There is some NSFW language in this post.

People across the country have erupted in protest against police brutality and systemic racism in the days following the death of George Floyd, a black man who died Monday after a white Minneapolis police officer held his knee on his neck for almost nine minutes. In addition to Minneapolis, people have been protesting in New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston and Nashville, among many other cities.

Several athletes and sports figures, including Colin Kaepernick, LeBron James, Steve Kerr, Joe Burrow and Evander Kane, have spoken out in support of the nationwide protests against racial injustices and for justice for not only Floyd but also for Breonna Taylor, who Louisville police shot and killed in her own apartment in March, and Ahmaud Arbery, who was shot and killed while jogging in February.

Some athletes, like Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and Ohio State basketball player Seth Towns, participated in protests.

But while athletes, sports figures and organizations are taking action and speaking out against police brutality — although some responses leave much to be desired — only a select few people in the NASCAR community have commented on social media. People have also been protesting in Charlotte, where NASCAR is based.

By the time the NASCAR race at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee began Sunday afternoon, only a handful of full-time Cup Series drivers in the white male-dominated sport had commented or reacted on social media (specifically Twitter, Facebook and Instagram) this week about the protests or Floyd specifically.

There also was no mention of Floyd or the protests on NASCAR’s Twitter, Instagram or Facebook accounts Sunday afternoon.

Unsurprisingly, two of the drivers who reacted publicly are Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., the only African-American driver in the Cup Series, and Daniel Suárez, the only Mexican driver in the top-tier series.

Ty Dillon also shared a lengthy statement on his social accounts. He continued his support on his Instagram story Sunday, which included linking to a video of Martin Luther King Jr. speaking about how “a riot is the language of the unheard,” which Jemele Hill posted to Instagram.

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🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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In response to Dillon tweeting his Instagram link, NASCAR senior vice president and chief communications officer Eric Nyquist tweeted:

Ryan Blaney retweeted a video of a Michigan sheriff speaking with protesters and joining them in protesting. His teammate, Brad Keselowski, also replied to a Twitter thread arguing against rioting.

Rookie driver Tyler Reddick didn’t comment, but he retweeted Suárez’s message.

A largely homogenous industry, NASCAR is no stranger to controversy when it comes to racial issues, especially considering how common confederate flags are at races.

During the sport’s 10-week hiatus because of the COVID-19 outbreak — which is disproportionally negatively impacting people of color — Kyle Larson said the N-word on a livestream during an iRacing event. After losing sponsors, he was fired by Chip Ganassi Racing and currently does not have a ride in NASCAR.

Wallace was, again, among the few drivers who shared a reaction to Larson using a racist slur. The No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet driver condemned Larson’s language, saying he felt hurt and angry, but adding that he’s willing to give Larson a second chance.

In 2017 in response to the continued debate about NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem to peacefully protest racial injustice and police brutality, NASCAR team owners Richard Childress and Richard Petty said they’d fire anyone who kneels for the national anthem.

Petty, whose only Cup Series driver is Wallace, told USA TODAY Sports in 2017:

“Anybody that don’t stand up for that ought to be out of the country. Period.”

And Childress, the grandfather of Dillon and owner of Richard Childress Racing, said at the time if an employee protested during the anthem that he’d “get you a ride on a Greyhound bus when the national anthem is over.”

For The Win will continue monitoring NASCAR drivers’ social media accounts and will update this story if more drivers comment on the protests.

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NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace condemns Kyle Larson for using a racist slur, says he has to be better

“It’s NOT just a word,” Bubba Wallace wrote about Kyle Larson using the N-word.

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. released a lengthy statement Thursday afternoon about Kyle Larson using a racial slur Sunday during an iRacing event that was being broadcast on Twitch and was heard by anyone on the livestream.

The 26-year-old driver of the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Chevrolet is the only African-American driver in the Cup Series, and he acknowledged he didn’t want to be involved in the controversy surrounding Larson saying the N-word.

But he wrote that there “is a part of my background and culture that feels attacked and hurt, and the other part feels confused and angry.” And he opened his statement by briefly explaining why the N-word is racist.

Wallace wrote:

It’s NOT just a word. There is a ton of negative meaning behind the word. Doesn’t matter if a person uses it in an offensive way or not. The word brings many terrible memories for people and families and brings them back to a time that WE as a community and human race have tried our hardest to get away from.

Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, the NASCAR season, like the rest of the sports world, has been postponed, so the racing world moved online.

During a race Sunday, Larson appeared to have some technical issues communicating over his radio and said: “You can’t hear me? Hey, [expletive].”

In his statement, Wallace later specifically addressed Larson using the racist slur and explained the communication they’ve had since. He continued:

What Larson said was wrong, whether in private or public. There is no grey area. I saw the incident the night it happened and within 5 minutes Kyle texted me. He called me the next morning as well. Finally I called him back with a FaceTime to talk “face to face,” and we had a good conversation, his apology was sincere. His emotions and pride were shattered. We discussed why he chose to use that language and I shared my thoughts.. [sic] I told him, it was too easy for him to use the word and that he has to do better and get it out of his vocabulary. There is no place for that work in this world. I am not mad at him, and I believe that he, along with most people deserve second chances, and deserve space to improve. I do wish him and his family nothing but the best. And I am more than willing to work with him to address diversity and inclusion in our sport.

In the early fallout this week, Larson was suspended Monday by both NASCAR and Chip Ganassi Racing, which then fired him Tuesday after multiple major sponsors — like McDonald’s and Credit One Bank — pulled their support from the driver specifically. The team said, in part:

“As we said before, the comments that Kyle made were both offensive and unacceptable especially given the values of our organization. As we continued to evaluate the situation with all the relevant parties, it became obvious that this was the only appropriate course of action to take.”

NASCAR is also requiring that Larson — who is of Japanese descent and an alumnus of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program — participate in its sensitivity training.

Going into the 2020 season — which only made it through four races before being postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak — Larson was in the final year of his contract with Ganassi. One of the more talented young drivers, he was expected to the the most sought-after upcoming free agent who would likely have his choice of teams.

His future now is even more uncertain, and any return to NASCAR following his indefinite suspension and sensitivity training could largely depend on his ability to secure new sponsors.

Our two cents about all this: Wallace shouldn’t be one of the only drivers speaking out about Larson using a racial slur, and doing so shouldn’t be his responsibility by default as the only African-American driver in the Cup Series. It’s not fair to him, and he shouldn’t be dragged into Larson’s mess simply because NASCAR is a white male dominated sport with a diversity problem.

Where are other prominent figures in NASCAR? On his podcast this week, Dale Earnhardt Jr. condemned Larson for having the slur in his vocabulary, and Joey Logano touched on it when asked in an interview with NBC Sports. But for whatever reason, most high-profile names in the sport have remained silent, and that’s not acceptable either.

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NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace on skydiving into Daytona 500 track: ‘I was beyond scared’ briefly

Three days before the Daytona 500, Bubba Wallace jumped out of a plane into the Daytona track.

This is the Daytona 500 from the Sky: A multi-part series from For The Win looking at NASCAR’s biggest race of the year from an aerial perspective.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The first time NASCAR driver Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. went skydiving, he landed inside the track at Daytona International Speedway.

Three days before the NASCAR Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500, the No. 43 Chevrolet driver jumped in tandem out of a plane, thanks to race sponsor, the U.S. Air Force. Although he said they missed their mark near the 2.5-mile track’s start-finish line by about 50 yards, they still comfortably landed on the grass.

“When my first foot went off [the plane], that’s when I was like, ‘I don’t want to do this,'” Wallace told For The Win. “We did a flip out, and I got it all together and we were doing it.”

Wallace — who will start 11th in the Daytona 500 in his Richard Petty Motorsports car — said it was particularly helpful to have someone else, his partner Randy, attached to him and leading the way as they jumped.

“He didn’t force me out, but he was controlling the motions,” Wallace said.

“He started walking, and the next thing you know, we’re off the back of the plane. At that moment right there, I was beyond scared. But it went from nervous to scared to this is awesome in a matter of two to three seconds.”

For about 45 seconds, the 26-year-old driver entering his third full-time Cup Series season said he was free-falling at what felt like 100 miles an hour. But then they pulled their parachute at about 5,000 feet and cruised down into the race track.

It took them about 10 minutes to reach the ground.

(Brian Lawdermilk/Getty Images)

“It’s the same view you have if you’re sitting gin a commercial jet looking out the window,” Wallace said about looking down at the track from the sky.

“But everything’s starting to get bigger and bigger, and the next thing you know, it’s like, ‘Oh man, we’re right over the race track.’ So it was cool.”

Wallace said the Air Force is always asking him what fun things he wants to do with them, but he doesn’t always know what’s on the table.

He’s flown twice in fighter jets — For The Win did too this week — he said, and would definitely go skydiving again.

“It was a ton of fun, really cool experience,” Wallace said.

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What NASCAR drivers eat before 500-mile races — and how they avoid uncomfortable ‘gut bombs’

From a bucket of chicken to skyline chili, NASCAR drivers told us what the best and worst pre-race meals are.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Deciding what to eat before climbing into a race car for 500 miles is a delicate balance between guaranteeing you have enough energy to aggressively compete for several hours but ensuring you don’t have to relieve yourself in the middle of the race (without getting out of the car).

Sunday’s Daytona 500 — along with the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series’ schedule and so many other motor sports series — is as much about endurance as it is speed, especially when temperatures in the car can hit 130 degrees.

So what do NASCAR drivers say is the best pre-race meal to eat? And more importantly, what’s the worst thing, the dish you absolutely want to steer clear of?

For The Win spoke to several drivers at Daytona International Speedway this week about their food preferences before racing. Here’s what they had to say about how they keep their stomachs cool and avoid disasters.

Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet

“I would think a big Mexican meal would probably be one of the worst things to eat. Best would be a nice Italian, carb-loading pasta session.”

Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford

(Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

“The best thing you can have is something bland, normal. Chicken, unless I have some salmon or something like that. And I usually throw a lot of barbecue sauce on it because that’s my jam.”

Barbecue sauce on salmon?

“Yeah, barbecue sauce on everything. … I was having eggs this morning and I had barbecue sauce on my eggs because it’s good!

“Worst? Worst would be something that upsets your stomach, obviously, because you’re stuck in there. Spicy foods may not be a good one. … Raisins and grapes don’t really mesh well for me. But it’s different for everybody. Everybody’s got their thing.”

Clint Bowyer, No. 14 Ford

“I would not eat a bowl of chili before the race. I would say the answer to that is: Just imagine yourself in those gut bombs you have after whatever meal it is. Thats’s not the one I would eat before a four-hour [event] where you’re strapped in a race car and can’t move. You gotta have a little wiggle room when you eat something like that.

“Forever, I’ve always said khaki colors only, you know, meat, cheese and the bun. Don’t venture out anything. Just eat something clean. Winner, winner, chicken dinner’s never wrong. I always grew up around racers [who were] like, ‘Absolutely no chicken.’ I’m like, ‘Haven’t you ever heard winner, winner, chicken dinner?’

“We used to win all the time after eating a bucket of chicken on the way to the races.”

Brad Keselowski, No. 2 Ford

“Best: chicken. Worst: ice cream. Ice cream in a race car is going to make some things happen to your body that you don’t want to happen.”

(Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports)

Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Toyota

“There’s a lot of things you probably shouldn’t [eat]. Anything spicy is probably a bad idea. I keep it simple: Chicken and rice, maybe steak and rice, a little salad. Nothing too heavy that’s going to upset your stomach, obviously.”

Kurt Busch, No. 1 Chevrolet

“The worst pre-race meal is something spicy. You don’t want that happening the wrong way during the race. I did some pasta back in the day trying to load up on some carbs, and, no pun intended, that just felt noodley.

“So I switched to a turkey sandwich, and I’ve been doing a turkey sandwich for the last 20 years.

Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford

“The best, for what I like, I’m a big chicken guy, rice, and corn. Corn’s pretty good, but mainly chicken and rice.

“Worst would be like Thai food or something. You don’t want something spicy that’s going to upset your stomach. The last thing you want in there when you’re on mile 250 out of 500 is your stomach starts rumbling because you ate some spicy food, and it’s not going to end well.”

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr., No. 43 Chevrolet

(Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports)

“Probably nothing spicy for pre-race. The best stuff? Probably some pasta. We’ll do that or some grilled chicken. Bob Evans’ mashed potatoes, phenomenal if you haven’t had those.

Seems kind of heavy.

“Maybe that’s my problem. I need to change up my diet. But I like what I like, and I’m gonna keep doing it!”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Chevrolet

“I keep it safe a lot of times and go with grilled fish or chicken and rice and some vegetables. Worst thing: Probably some tacos. Any and all.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet

“Man, the worst thing I ate was peanut butter and jelly one time. I had like, acid reflux or something and I was burping the whole race. I never use peanut butter before the race. I don’t know why. I like peanut butter. That was not fun.

“Best thing? Some type of bar. Something really stale and easy on your stomach. I do some wraps, but I’ve got to be careful with that too. I just keep it super light.

“I eat a big breakfast, and then hopefully that moves through my system. If you want to know my bowel movements, I can record them for you and give them to you.”

No thanks.

Erik Jones, No. 20 Toyota

“The best thing? Chicken and vegetables, salad maybe.

“The worst thing? I know a guy who ate skyline chili — I don’t know if everybody knows what that is, it’s a midwestern thing — ate some skyline chili before a race. Didn’t work very good for him. I stay away from that. I eat the light stuff.”

Ross Chastain, No. 77 Chevrolet

(Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

Well, the best is a watermelon. There’s just no way around that, OK? Goodness gracious. Everybody should know that.

Obviously, from a watermelon farmer.

“The worst for me is anything spicy. I’m a pretty bland guy, like ketchup is a spice to me. You put ketchup on something, that’s doing something. I’m very bland. I’m like baked chicken with barbecue sauce on it is an ideal spice palette for me.”

Tyler Reddick, No. 8 Chevrolet

“I love eating seafood. On top of that, I like eating sashimi. That could either be the best thing or worst thing before you get in the race car.”

Is that what you usually eat?

“I wish I had the ability to do that. I just keep it simple and light. A little bit of grilled chicken, a wrap or something like that. Maybe a salad. I like to eat — really eat good during the week, so I can get to the race weekend and then try and clean up what I eat so my body isn’t pissed off I ate too much of one thing.”

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