FBI says the 'noose' in black NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace's garage was a 'a door-pull rope' that has been there since October 2019
- Federal authorities announced Tuesday that the noose found hanging in Bubba Wallace's garage stall Sunday had been there since at least October last year
- They said evidence found Wallace was not a victim of a hate crime and no charges would be filed
- A crew member for Richard Petty Motorsports discovered the noose Sunday
- NASCAR was alerted and contacted the FBI who concluded their investigation Tuesday and decided no crime had been committed
- They said the door pull rope fashioned as a noose was there for months before Wallace was assigned the garage for the race
- Wallace is the only Black driver at NASCAR's top level
- He successfully pushed the stock car series to ban the Confederate flag two weeks ago but some fans were unhappy
The noose found hanging in Bubba Wallace's garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway had been there since at least last Fall, federal authorities said Tuesday.
They announced that video surveillance footage from NASCAR confirmed it was a garage door pull rope styled like a noose that had been hanging from at least October 2019.
As a result, no federal charges would be filed in an incident that rocked NASCAR and its only full-time Black driver.
A crew member for Richard Petty Motorsports discovered the noose Sunday at the Alabama race track.
A noose was found in the garage being used by NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace Sunday but the FBI said that its investigation had found the rope was attached to the garage door since at least Fall 2019. Wallace is the only Black driver at NASCAR's top level
NASCAR drivers push the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, driven by Bubba Wallace, to the front of the grid as a sign of solidarity with the driver Monday after a noose was found in his garage. The FBI announced Tuesday the rope had been there since at least last Fall and that no charges would be filed as there was no evidence a hate crime was committed
Nascar said in a statement released Tuesday that it was 'thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba' and thanked the FBI for their investigation
NASCAR was alerted and contacted the FBI, which sent 15 agents to the track to investigate but they have now determined no federal crime was committed.
U.S. Attorney Jay Town and FBI Special Agent in Charge Johnnie Sharp Jr. said Tuesday its investigation determined 'although the noose is now known to have been in garage number 4 in 2019, nobody could have known Mr. Wallace would be assigned to garage number 4 last week'.
The Wood Brothers Racing team said one of its employees informed the team he recalled 'seeing a tied handle in the garage pull down rope from last fall', when NASCAR raced at Talladega in October.
The team said it immediately alerted NASCAR and assisted the investigation.
'On Monday, fifteen FBI special agents conducted numerous interviews regarding the situation at Talladega Superspeedway,' the FBI statement said.
'After a thorough review of the facts and evidence surrounding this event, we have concluded that no federal crime was committed.'
The statement said the garage stall was assigned to Wallace last week in advance of the race scheduled for Sunday but held on Monday because of rain.
Through video confirmed by NASCAR it was discovered the noose had been 'was in that garage as early as October 2019'.
The agencies said the evidence did not support federal charges.
'The decision not to pursue federal charges is proper after reviewing all available facts and all applicable federal laws,' the statement concluded.
'We offer our thanks to NASCAR, Mr. Wallace, and everyone who cooperated with this investigation.'
Bubba Wallace takes a selfie with himself and other drivers that pushed his car to the front in the pits Monday in an act of solidarity with NASCAR's only Black driver
Nascar drivers Kyle Busch, left, and Corey LaJoie, right, join other drivers and crews as they push the car of Bubba Wallace to the front of the field. It came after one of Wallace's team found a noose in his garage Sunday but the FBI has now deemed it a misunderstanding and that a garage door pull down rope fashioned as a noose had been in the garage since last Fall
NASCAR also released a statement in which they thanked the FBI's quick response.
'The FBI has completed its investigation of the Talladega Superspeedway and determined that Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime,' the statement read.
'The FBI reports concludes, and photographic evidence confirms, that the garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose had been positioned there since as early as last fall.
'This was obviously well before the 43 team's arrival and garage assignment,' it added.
'We appreciate the FBI's quick and thorough investigation and are thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who love racing.'
The discovery of the noose stunned the stock car series as it is taking an active position in a push for inclusion while distancing itself from its rocky racial history.
The hangman's noose is connected to lynching in the United States and is symbol of violence and racism against African Americans.
'For us in NASCAR, this is the best result we could hope for,' NASCAR president Steve Phelps said Tuesday after the FBI findings were announced, according to ESPN.
'This is ... disturbing to hear that it was thought that one of our own had committed this heinous act. It is fantastic to hear from the FBI, definitively, that there was not a hate crime.
'I do want to make sure everyone understands that, if given the evidence that we had was delivered to us on late Saturday afternoon, we would do the same thing. We would have done the same investigation. It was important for us to do. There is no place in our sport for this type of racism or hatred. It's not part of who we are as a sport.'
Team owner Richard Petty, right, stands with driver Bubba Wallace prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama, Monday
NASCAR drivers push the #43 Victory Junction Chevrolet, driven by Bubba Wallace, to the front of the grid as a sign of solidarity with the driver, who had pushed NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag in its venues less than two weeks ago which left some fans unhappy
The series first tried to ban the Confederate flag five years ago but did nothing to enforce the order.
Wallace, he only Black driver at NASCAR's top level, two weeks ago renewed the call for a ban and NASCAR answered, however.
The stock car series has now banned the Confederate flag at its venues but has yet to detail how it will stop the display.
There has been criticism of the ban by some longtime fans and security had been stepped up for Wallace, a 26-year-old Alabama native who has worn in the last month a shirt over his firesuit that read 'I Can't Breathe'.
His paint scheme for a race in Virginia was Black Lives Matter.
Talladega marked the first race since the coronavirus pandemic that fans were permitted - 5,000 were allowed to purchase tickets - and some upset with the flag ban paraded past the main entrance with the Southern symbol.
A banner flew over the speedway Sunday of a Confederate flag that read 'Defund NASCAR'.
NASCAR announced late Sunday the noose had been discovered and the industry rallied around Wallace.
All 39 of his rival drivers and their crews helped push Wallace's car to the front of pit road before the national anthem and stood behind him in solidarity.
Wallace was joined by his team owner, Hall of Famer Richard Petty, who gently placed a hand on Wallace's shoulder as he sobbed.
Bubba Wallace was overcome with emotion as he sat in his car prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series race on Monday, a day after it was thought a noose was found in his garage
Wallace after the race went to the fencing along the grandstands and greeted supporters.
'The sport is changing,' he said.
'The prerace deal was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to witness in my life. From all the supporters, from drivers to crew members, everybody here, the badass fan base, thank you guys for coming out. This is truly incredible, and I'm glad to be a part of this sport.'
Wallace has yet to win a race in nearly three seasons on NASCAR's top circuit, but did finish second at the 2018 Daytona 500 — the sport's biggest event.
This season he has become a symbol rights figure as NASCAR's only African American full-time driver.
The noose incident rocked NASCAR, which returned to racing just last month because of the coronavirus pandemic.
'We are angry and outraged, and cannot state strongly enough how seriously we take this heinous act,' the series said in a statement after the rope was first found.
'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.'
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