CONCORD, N.C. – In the last week, Bubba Wallace has stepped into the spotlight more than he ever has before.
As the only African-American driver at NASCAR’s top level, Wallace has become the unofficial voice of the sport amid calls for change across the United States in the wake of the death of George Floyd.
Floyd, an African-American man, died May 25 after a Minneapolis (Minn.) police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest. The incident has sparked outrage, resulting in protests and calls for change in cities across the world.
“It’s definitely been a lot. It’s mentally taxing,” Wallace admitted Friday during a media teleconference. “But, we were talking earlier, it’s that part of the pedestal that you sign-up for. It doesn’t say that on the front page, the book of being an athlete or an icon in the sport, it doesn’t say that on the front page of what you’re going to have to go through. It’s just part of it.”
Wallace has made the most of his position as a star at NASCAR’s top level by helping bring attention to those calling for change. Prior to the race at Atlanta Motor Speedway last Sunday, as well as Wednesday’s race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Wallace wore a shirt with the words, ‘I Can’t Breathe – Black Lives Matter.’
That’s not all. He’s made multiple media appearances, discussing the need for change not just in NASCAR, but across the country. On Monday, during an appearance on CNN, the Richard Petty Motorsports driver called for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag from being flown at NASCAR events.
Two days later NASCAR did exactly that, banning the Confederate flag that for many represents racism and hatred.
Wallace hopes the banning of the Confederate flag will serve as an opportunity for potential fans of any race who previously felt uncomfortable attending NASCAR events to revisit the idea of taking in an event.
“What I want is just for people to not feel uncomfortable,” Wallace said. “The first thing they talk about is feeling uncomfortable because of something that reminds them of a negative past and that has so much negative history behind it. And yeah, to you it might seem like it’s heritage, but others see hate. And I don’t understand why it’s so hard for us.
“We’re selfish. We’re a selfish nation, but we need to come together and meet in the middle and be like, you know what? If this bothers you, I don’t mind taking it down,” Wallace continued. “I’m not saying go to your house and get rid of everything you have. It’s just, at a sporting event, a public event, where all walks of life are welcome, let’s just get rid of it.”
Wallace’s efforts didn’t stop with the Confederate flag. On Wednesday at Martinsville, Wallace piloted a car emblazoned with #BlackLivesMatter, running in the top-10 most of the night and ultimately finishing 11th.
It wasn’t the best finish of his Cup career overall, but it was the best finish of his Cup career at Martinsville Speedway. It also helped further the cause that Wallace has become a champion of in recent weeks
While there have been many positives, Wallace also admits that what he has done has come with a few negatives. In the past Wallace has enjoyed going into the infield during NASCAR events and interacting with fans, but he said that he’ll be rethinking that once fans are allowed back on a regular basis.
“I like to go out and sometimes spend time in the infield with the fans and have a good time, and I haven’t been ridiculed against. I know that’s going to change now,” Wallace said. “I’ve got to be careful what I do. That’s kind of where we live in. My dad has texted me. He was proud of what I was doing on and off the race track, but he was worried about my safety; you know, going out in public and whatnot. So, it’s just crazy you have to think about that side of things.
“You’ve definitely got to watch your back now, and can’t be like that outspoken guy, just happy-go-lucky guy that would go take a trip on the golf cart or my longboard down into the infield, or whatever, and have a good time. So, it’s definitely different.”
So what’s next? Wallace says NASCAR and those involved with the sport need to continue moving in the right direction, which includes more public outreach and community relations.
“We have to do a little bit more diving deep into our communities and doing some public outreach there,” Wallace said. “Right now I’m brainstorming ideas with my team to come up with what we could do locally and help organizations and whatnot grow, and get them a part of the sport or expose them to the sport, really.
“Not everybody has social media. Not everybody watches the news or hears what’s going on, so we have to make sure we’re getting our message across to all people that somewhat have an interest of wanting to be a part of the sport. We have to solidify that message that we have conveyed over the last couple of weeks so that we don’t stand what’s been going on, we’re standing up for quality, unity, love, compassion, and understanding; just like it read on our race car on Wednesday.”