Richard Petty, entire Talladega field show support for Bubba Wallace
In an extraordinary act of solidarity with NASCAR's only Black full-time driver, dozens of drivers pushed the car belonging to Bubba Wallace to the front of the field before Monday's race at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, one day after a noose was found in his garage stall.
Wallace was surrounded by all 39 other drivers in the moments before the race, and they were joined by their crews in a march down pit road as they pushed his No. 43 to the front of the line. Wallace climbed out of his car and wept.
The idea for the gesture came up earlier Monday. Jimmie Johnson said in a drivers chat that he would stand with Wallace during the national anthem. Then, Kevin Harvick had the idea that they should have the drivers push Wallace's car to the front
Standing alongside Wallace for the national anthem was Richard Petty, the 82-year-old Hall of Fame driver known as "The King.'' Wallace drives the No. 43 Chevrolet for Petty, who issued a scathing rebuke after the noose was found that called for the "sick person'' to be expelled from NASCAR forever -- a move NASCAR president Steve Phelps insisted would happen should they be caught.
Sources told ESPN's Marty Smith that Petty decided to travel to Talladega after the noose was found and that he said the "most important thing for me right now is hugging my driver." This marks the first race Petty has attended since the sport was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Workers also painted "#IStandWithBubbaWallace'' on the infield grass before Monday's race, which was postponed from Sunday because of inclement weather.
Wallace said in a statement Sunday that he was "incredibly saddened" by the act.
Authorities said Monday that the FBI is investigating the discovery of the noose, and the governor of Alabama condemned the act against Wallace.
Former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. also took to Twitter to offer his support for Wallace in the wake of Sunday's incident.
I don’t worry about our sport. I have confidence NASCAR’s leadership will find who did this and continue pushing us in the right direction. I do worry about Bubba. I hope Bubba is feeling loved and supported. Keep sending him that love and support. He needs it now more than ever.
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Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1's only Black driver and its reigning champion, also offered his support via Instagram.
"It's disgusting that this is happening, stay safe and alert out there bro," Hamilton wrote. "Supporting you from afar, proud of you."
Wallace two weeks ago successfully pushed NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its venues, though the sanctioning body has not outlined plans on how it will enforce the restriction. Disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the Alabama race track prior to Sunday's race, while a plane flew above the track pulling a banner of the flag that read "Defund NASCAR."
Hours after the race was postponed by rain, NASCAR said the noose had been found. The sanctioning body vowed to do everything possible to find who was responsible and "eliminate them from the sport."
Talladega County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore said NASCAR contacted the FBI, which was handling the investigation. The FBI field office in Birmingham did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said she was "shocked and appalled'' by the "vile act'' against Wallace, an Alabama native.
"There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state,'' Ivey said. "Bubba Wallace is one of us; he is a native of Mobile and on behalf of all Alabamians, I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state.''
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Texas Motor Speedway to welcome some fans for July Cup series race
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Texas Motor Speedway plans to open its massive grandstands to thousands of fans for a rescheduled NASCAR Cup Series race next month.
Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday approved a plan submitted by the track to allow spectators for the race on July 19. The governor had previously said that outdoor sporting events could be held with 50% capacity.
Track President Eddie Gossage said it was still too early to know how many fans would be able to attend the race at the 1½-mile track that has a capacity of about 135,000, including suites and the grandstands that stretch about ⅔ of a mile from end to end.
"We don't know, because it depends," Gossage said.
With social distancing protocols in place, the speedway first has to reassign seating for people who had already purchased tickets for the race, which was originally scheduled for March 29 before NASCAR paused its season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Gossage described that process as like doing a jigsaw puzzle. There are already 25,000 to 30,000 tickets out for the race, though fans can still request credit for future tickets or refunds.
"If everybody responds and wants to be seated two by two, that requires a lot more empty seats between them. If it's groups of fours and sixes and eights, and things like that, then it's a little denser," he said. "So I don't know how many it will be. And we're not focused on any number. We're just wanting to seat everybody properly, socially distanced apart so that everybody is safe and has a good time.''
There were no fans when IndyCar opened its delayed season at Texas two weeks ago in what initially was supposed to be the midpoint of a 17-race season for the open-wheel series. No spectators will be allowed at the NASCAR Xfinity and Truck Series races at Texas the day before the Cup race.
NASCAR is set to allow up to 30,000 fans at Bristol, Tennessee, for its All-Star Race four days before the Cup race in Texas. A recent spike in COVID-19 cases in North Carolina sparked the move of that race from Charlotte Motor Speedway.
About 1,000 fans, mostly military personnel, were allowed for the Cup race last weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. About 5,000 fans are expected Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
The announcement about fans in Texas comes as the state continues to see rising numbers of new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations since Memorial Day. A record 3,148 COVID-19 hospitalizations were reported in Texas on Friday, more than double the number in hospitals over the holiday weekend. The reported 3,454 new cases were down slightly from the single-day record 3,516 set Thursday.
"Texans are eager for sporting and entertainment events to return, and this is a great step towards that goal,'' Abbott said. "As we continue to open Texas, it is essential that we do so in a way that keeps Texans safe and limits the spread of COVID-19. Texas Motor Speedway has put a tremendous amount of work, time and energy into ensuring that this race meets all the necessary safety and health standards, and I applaud them for this effort.''
Along with social distancing in the grandstands and concession lines, there will be enhanced cleaning and sanitation in high-touch, high-traffic public areas and more hand sanitizer stations. Masks will be encouraged. While there will be no fans or camping on the infield, camping will be allowed outside the track. Fans won't be allowed to bring their coolers inside.
The track is going to 100% digital ticketing for the first time since it opened in 1997, and it won't be selling tickets on race day. All purchases, such as concessions and merchandise, will be cashless transactions.
Gossage said the track is following the guidance of the state, adding that the size of the speedway and being outdoors provides "a whole lot of space there for a lot of people to safely do this.''
Richard Petty, entire Talladega field show support for Bubba Wallace
In an extraordinary act of solidarity with NASCAR's only Black full-time driver, dozens of drivers pushed the car belonging to Bubba Wallace to the front of the field before Monday's race at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, one day after a noose was found in his garage stall.
Wallace was surrounded by all 39 other drivers in the moments before the race, and they were joined by their crews in a march down pit road as they pushed his No. 43 to the front of the line. Wallace climbed out of his car and wept.
The idea for the gesture came up earlier Monday. Jimmie Johnson said in a drivers chat that he would stand with Wallace during the national anthem. Then, Kevin Harvick had the idea that they should have the drivers push Wallace's car to the front
Standing alongside Wallace for the national anthem was Richard Petty, the 82-year-old Hall of Fame driver known as "The King.'' Wallace drives the No. 43 Chevrolet for Petty, who issued a scathing rebuke after the noose was found that called for the "sick person'' to be expelled from NASCAR forever -- a move NASCAR president Steve Phelps insisted would happen should they be caught.
Sources told ESPN's Marty Smith that Petty decided to travel to Talladega after the noose was found and that he said the "most important thing for me right now is hugging my driver." This marks the first race Petty has attended since the sport was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Workers also painted "#IStandWithBubbaWallace'' on the infield grass before Monday's race, which was postponed from Sunday because of inclement weather.
Wallace said in a statement Sunday that he was "incredibly saddened" by the act.
Authorities said Monday that the FBI is investigating the discovery of the noose, and the governor of Alabama condemned the act against Wallace.
Former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. also took to Twitter to offer his support for Wallace in the wake of Sunday's incident.
I don’t worry about our sport. I have confidence NASCAR’s leadership will find who did this and continue pushing us in the right direction. I do worry about Bubba. I hope Bubba is feeling loved and supported. Keep sending him that love and support. He needs it now more than ever.
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Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1's only Black driver and its reigning champion, also offered his support via Instagram.
"It's disgusting that this is happening, stay safe and alert out there bro," Hamilton wrote. "Supporting you from afar, proud of you."
Wallace two weeks ago successfully pushed NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at its venues, though the sanctioning body has not outlined plans on how it will enforce the restriction. Disgruntled fans with Confederate flags drove past the main entrance to the Alabama race track prior to Sunday's race, while a plane flew above the track pulling a banner of the flag that read "Defund NASCAR."
Hours after the race was postponed by rain, NASCAR said the noose had been found. The sanctioning body vowed to do everything possible to find who was responsible and "eliminate them from the sport."
Talladega County Sheriff Jimmy Kilgore said NASCAR contacted the FBI, which was handling the investigation. The FBI field office in Birmingham did not immediately return a message left by The Associated Press.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said she was "shocked and appalled'' by the "vile act'' against Wallace, an Alabama native.
"There is no place for this disgusting display of hatred in our state,'' Ivey said. "Bubba Wallace is one of us; he is a native of Mobile and on behalf of all Alabamians, I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state.''
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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