Shoulder to shoulder, step by step, NASCAR lined up behind Bubba Wallace, lined up against the past, lined up for a future long overdue to arrive.
A day after NASCAR reported a noose was found in Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega International Speedway, the sport’s drivers and crew took it upon themselves prior to Monday’s race to push the circuit’s only African American driver, and his car, down pit road. They then stood behind him during the playing of the national anthem.
When Wallace climbed out of the vehicle, he was overcome with emotion, crying as each driver took a turn to hug him.