Booing Bubba Wallace at All Star event was not racist, say NASCAR fans; it's because he's a ‘mediocre’ driver
Bubba Wallace has been down on his luck lately. NASCAR's only black driver and one of the most successful black drivers in Elite Series' history first made headlines when a noose was allegedly found in his garage at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama. The incident was investigated by the FBI for possible hate crime before they revealed that the "noose" was a garage door pull-down rope that was in place for nearly a year.
It sparked quite a lot of hatred and drew comparisons with the Jussie Smollet case. Not just that, US President Donald Trump tweeted, "Has @BubbaWallace apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX?" adding, "That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!"
Clarifying his stance, Wallace told CNN host Don Lemon on the night of June 23, "It was a noose. Whether tied in 2019 or whatever, it was a noose," he said. "So it wasn't directed at me but somebody tied a noose. That's what I'm saying." He also spoke with the Today show's Craig Melvin on June 24, saying he is "relieved, just like many others, to know that it wasn’t targeted toward me." However, that incident seems to have stuck in many hearts.
Recently, the NASCAR driver was booed at NASCAR's All-Star Race by spectators at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. That day, he was hoping to either race his way into the All-Star Race in the qualifier before the main event at Bristol Motor Speedway or qualify for the exhibition event by winning the fan vote on July 15. However, it was just seven laps into the qualifying event when Michael McDowell in the No. 34 Ford turned to Wallace and pushed his No. 43 Chevrolet into the wall, destroying the car. Moreover, Bubba smashed into McDowell's left rear quarter panel first, which led to him being ousted.
No sooner did the news of him being booed at the event reached social media, it sparked on the Internet with one user saying, "It made me so mad today that when Bubba Wallace got introduced today and everyone booed him really pissed me off and makes me not want to tell people that I’m a NASCAR fan also didn’t like the fact that when bubba wrecked everyone cheered guess what I’m saying is NASCAR fans suck." Another fan tweeted, "For those of you that just booed@BubbaWallace when he was introduced at Bristol... F**k YOU! The hate in your heart is pathetic and you need to find light and be a better human."
Many called NASCAR fans racist for doing so but the Internet reiterated that was not the case. "So booing Bubba Wallace is racist? Why is that? Lots of drivers get booed. Why does he get a special exemption? #NASCAR," one tweet read. This is not the first time a NASCAR driver has been booed. "If any of you folks think that Bubba Wallace is the first driver to get booed during driver introductions and receive loud cheers when he’s hit the wall you’re sadly mistaken. Come on.....is this your first race? Go ask Kyle, Kurt, Joey, Brad, Clint, Jimmie, Jeff, Rusty, etc....etc.....how many times it’s happened to them. Get over yourselves already. Bubba is nothing special. Just another mediocre NASCAR driver," one comment said.
Another commented, "Wow, everything gets overblown how many drivers get booed during introductions and when they crash?!! Many! Jeff Gordon constantly over his career and I would be booing Joey Logano tomorrow if I could!!! I can imagine the elevated situation causes some to lose their mind but those who don’t follow or watch this sport shouldn’t be making these types of calls and stories. He’s a big boy in a big boy sport he can handle things."
"Bubba got booed "SO WHAT!". Welcome to NASCAR. Mess with tradition what you think gonna happen?" one comment read and another said, "Bubba Wallace is the worst driver to ever hop in the 43 car Kyle petty should be very disappointed that they left some dumbass drive his number."
Calling Bubba out for his driving skills, one comment said, "Bubba Wallace is the worst driver to ever hop in the 43 car Kyle petty should be very disappointed that they left some dumba** drive his number," and another read: "Bubba is a loser. He thinks everyone should slow down and let him win just because he is Black (well, sort of a shade of black ). Maybe that is his problem."