Noose left in racetrack garage of NASCAR’s only black driver, Bubba Wallace, in ‘despicable act of racism’

NASCAR has launched an investigation after a noose was left in the racetrack garage of the sport’s only full-time black driver, Bubba Wallace.

The noose was found in Wallace’s stall on Sunday at the Talladega circuit in the southern state of Alabama, where a race was to be held before stormy weather eventually saw it postponed by a day.

The incident comes just two weeks after Wallace successfully pushed for NASCAR to ban the contentious Confederate flag at its tracks and properties.

NASCAR chiefs say they are “outraged” by the noose, saying there is no place for racism in NASCAR.

“We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act,” NASCAR said in a statement.

“As we have stated unequivocally, there is no place for racism in NASCAR, and this act only strengthens our resolve to make the sport open and welcoming to all.”

Wallace took to Twitter to address the issue and admitted the incident was a ‘painful reminder’ of racism in the United States.

“The despicable act of racism and hatred leaves me incredibly saddened and serves as a painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism.”

“As my mother told me today, ‘They are just trying to scare you’,” he wrote.

“This will not break me, I will not give in nor will I back down. I will continue to proudly stand for what I believe in.

Basketball star LeBron James called the noose incident “sickening”.