After calling for a ban on confederate flags at NASCAR events and donning an 'I Can't Breathe' shirt at Sunday's race in A...
After calling for a ban on confederate flags at NASCAR events and donning an 'I Can't Breathe' shirt at Sunday's race in Atlanta, Bubba Wallace, the stock car circuit's only African-American driver, has unveiled a new 'Black Lives Matter' paint job for his No. 43 car ahead of Wednesday's race in Virginia.
'I'm excited about this opportunity to run a "hashtag" BlackLivesMatter car for Martinsville, one of our best race tracks - my best race track for sure,' Wallace said in an interview posted on the Richard Petty Motorsports Twitter page.
'This statement that we have right here that we're about to make, running this race car on live television on Fox, I think it's going to speak volumes to what I stand for, but also what the initiative and what NASCAR, and the whole sport, is trying to push.'
The car design features the phrase 'compassion, love, understanding,' on the hood.
Bubba Wallace, the stock car circuit's only African-American driver, has unveiled a new ' Black Lives Matter ' paint job for his No. 43 car ahead of Wednesday's race in Virginia. Wallace wore an 'I Can't Breathe' shit at Sunday's race in Atlanta to protest George Floyd's killing
The car design features the phrase 'compassion, love, understanding,' on the hood
Wallace, 26, has made headlines recent weeks as NASCAR has worked to promote civil rights in the wake of George Floyd's killing at the hands of Minneapolis police on May 25. Floyd, an unarmed black man, died during a violent arrest after a white officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes as the victim screamed that he could not breathe.
During Sunday's national anthem, Wallace wore an 'I Can't Breathe' shirt, a reference to Floyd and the 2014 killing of Eric Garner, who died while New York City police held him in a chokehold for several minutes.
In an unrelated story, Wallace appeared to faint twice after Sunday's race in Atlanta. A spokesperson for Richard Petty Motorsports told the Daily Mail he was suffering from dehydration, but is fine now.
Monday Wallace told CNN that NASCAR should prohibit fans from bringing confederate flags to races - a long tradition for a sport that's rooted in the south and has come to symbolize the region.
'No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race,' the Alabama native said. 'So it starts with Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They have no place for them.'
Wallace told CNN that NASCAR should prohibit fans from bringing confederate flags to races - a long tradition for a sport that's rooted in the south and has come to symbolize the region
Richard Petty Motorsports released a statement last week in support of Wallace
While the Confederate flag remains a symbol of southern pride to some, its history is inextricably linked with slavery and the racist motivations behind the secession of the southern states in 1860.
As Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stevens infamously said at the onset of the Civil War: 'Our new [government's] foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man.'
![While the Confederate flag remains a symbol of pride to some, its history is inextricably linked with slavery and the racist motivations behind the secession of the Southern States in 1860. As Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stevens (pictured) infamously said at the onset of the Civil War: 'Our new [government's] foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/06/09/14/29403888-8402449-image-a-21_1591708363184.jpg)
While the Confederate flag remains a symbol of pride to some, its history is inextricably linked with slavery and the racist motivations behind the secession of the Southern States in 1860. As Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stevens (pictured) infamously said at the onset of the Civil War: 'Our new [government's] foundations are laid, its cornerstone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man'
As the race was about to start, all 40 cars were summoned to a stop in front of the grandstands so NASCAR president Steve Phelps could deliver a message.
'Those watching at home, thank you for your time. Our country is in pain and people are justifiably angry, demanding to be heard,' Phelps said in a message the drivers could hear through their headsets. 'The black community and all people of color have suffered in our country and it has taken far too long for us to hear their demands for change. Our sport must do better. Our country must do better.
'The time is now to listen, to understand and to stand against racism and racial injustice. We ask our drivers, our competitors and all our fans to join us in this mission, to take a moment of reflection to acknowledge we must do better as a sport and join us as we may now pause and ... listen.'
During Phelps' message, a black NASCAR official could be seen kneeling on one knee - in the same manner as former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who kneeled during the playing of the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality.
The vow of stemming racial inequality comes less than two months after driver Kyle Larson was fired by Chip Ganassi Racing after using a racial slur during a virtual event. NASCAR indefinitely suspended Larson for violating its code of conduct policy.
As Sunday's race was about to start, all 40 cars were summoned to a stop in front of the grandstands so NASCAR president Steve Phelps could deliver a message, during which a black NASCAR official could be seen kneeling on one knee in the same manner as former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who kneeled during the playing of the national anthem in 2016 to protest police brutality
Wednesday's race in Martinsville will be held without fans, as the sport continues its return from the coronavirus pandemic, but spectators are expected to attend two June races in Florida and Alabama.
A NASCAR fan wears a Confederate flag around his shoulders as he walks towards a private campground area that hosts vendors, food and entertainment before the start of the race at the Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee in 2017
The plan to reintroduce guests at select NASCAR Cup Series races will begin with the June 14 Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway and the Geico 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.
NASCAR, which postponed racing in mid-March due to concerns over the novel coronavirus and resumed action in mid-May, said it will welcome up to 1,000 invited military members to the Miami race while Talledega will allow up to 5,000 guests.
Homestead-Miami can normally host up to 46,000 fans while the capacity at Talladega Superspeedway ranges between 80,000-175,000.
Among the safety measures in place, NASCAR said guests in attendance will be screened before entering, required to wear face coverings and maintain social distance.
'We have tremendous respect and appreciation for the responsibility that comes with integrating guests back into our events,' NASCAR Executive Vice President Daryl Wolfe said in a statement.
'We believe implementing this methodical process is an important step forward for the sport and the future of live sporting events.
NASCAR was the first major sport in the United States to return to action amid the COVID-19 pandemic when it held a May 17 race in South Carolina without spectators.
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