The noose found in Bubba Wallace's garage at Talladega Superspeedway was there since last year, and was not intended to target the driver, federal authorities announced Tuesday. The FBI and U.S. Attorney Jay Town said that no crime was committed, since it would not have been possible to know that Wallace would be assigned that garage. The noose had been at the garage since last October, investigators said. The discovery of the noose caused an uproar, leading Gov. Kay Ivey to apologize on behalf of the state, and drivers rallied around Wallace in an unprecedented display of solidarity ahead of Monday's rain-delayed Geico 500. Wallace, the sport's only full-time black driver, made headlines by convincing NASCAR to ban the Confederate battle flag at its venues.
NASCAR released the following statement:
“The FBI has completed its investigation at Talladega Superspeedway and determined that Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime. 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. We appreciate the FBI’s quick and thorough investigation and are thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who love racing.”
Photo: NASCAR