On Sunday night, NASCAR announced a noose was found in Bubba Wallace's garage during the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Wallace is the only Black driver in the Cup Series and has been the main voice in the sport for equality and inclusion.
Since NASCAR released a statement regarding the incident, many in the sports world, from his best friend on the track Ryan Blaney to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and NBA star LeBron James, have taken to social media to express their disgust with the incident and show love to Wallace.
On Monday afternoon, NASCAR president Steve Phelps discussed the current investigation by NASCAR and the FBI saying whoever is found responsible "will be banned from this sport for life," adding "I don't care who they are, they will not be here."
Ahead of Monday's continuation of the Geico 500 at Talladega, NASCAR made sure to show their support for the Richard Petty Motorsports driver.
Before the green flag waved, fellow drivers and their crews pushed his Chevrolet Camaro car to the front in Talladega in solidarity.
#NASCAR unified to push Bubba Wallace’s No. 43 down pit road ahead of the #GEICO500 at Talladega pic.twitter.com/Wdb7Qzxx8r
— Matt Mayer (@MatthewMayerCBS) June 22, 2020
Moving and powerful scenes in Talladega as drivers and crew show support for Bubba Wallace. pic.twitter.com/UYtvYAcZLY
— Andrew Gourdie (@AndrewGourdie) June 22, 2020
Wallace was emotional and in tears hugged each driver one by one.
He snapped a selfie with the drivers captioning it, "Together."
Together pic.twitter.com/D4zW3jA5y5
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) June 22, 2020
"I stand with Bubba" was painted on the grass.
When it came time for the national anthem, Blaney stood next to Wallace and the remaining garage stood behind.
.@Blaney is now standing next to Bubba for the national anthem.
— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) June 22, 2020
The rest of the entire garage is still behind the No. 43 car on pit road, standing as a collective unit.
The #NASCAR family. What a scene. pic.twitter.com/VZA0xCDM0n
Many athletes and drivers reacted to the powerful moment.
Wallace's spotter Freddie Kraft was heard on the radio saying, "Let's shut these haters up."
"Let's go shut these haters up."
— NASCAR (@NASCAR) June 22, 2020
Before taking the green flag, @BubbaWallace and his @RPMotorsports team had a pep talk on their radio. pic.twitter.com/MbajNBuXoQ
Joey Logano called it "an amazing moment together."
Amazing moment together #NASCAR #WeStandWithBubba https://t.co/VgxouHgTJQ
— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) June 22, 2020
The Seattle Mariners said, "This transcends sports."
This transcends sports. We stand with you, @BubbaWallace. https://t.co/SSaAw40SsQ
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) June 22, 2020
Stewart-Haas Racing tweeted out support for the No. 43 driver.
Together https://t.co/8NYCdpt36q
— Stewart-Haas Racing (@StewartHaasRcng) June 22, 2020
Darron Lee is rooting for "FO THREE."
FO THREE!! ✊🏾 https://t.co/xpNHRYof73
— Darron Lee (@DLeeMG8) June 22, 2020
Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King's daughter also tweeted about the moment saying, "Racism is not a difference of opinion."
Racism is not a difference of opinion.
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) June 22, 2020
It is psychological, systemic, spiritual, and physical violence.
From @BleacherReport: @BubbaWallace was overcome with emotion after his fellow @NASCAR drivers pushed his car to the front at Talladega. pic.twitter.com/KJbk9wXw95
Wallace finished 14th on Monday, his best career Talladega finish.