Bubba Wallace Reacts to FBI Saying Noose Was Not Hate Crime

Bubba Wallace Appears on CNN (Credit: CNN)

NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace has spoken out about to the FBI investigation into the noose found in his garage at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, and said he’s “pissed” about attacks on his character.

Wallace made his comments during a Tuesday appearance on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon. The interview came just hours after the FBI concluded the rope had been in the stall since 2019, and no hate crime was committed.

“I think you have handled this like a champ and I’m appreciative that you came to speak to us tonight,” Lemon said. “The federal investigation shows this wasn’t a hate crime. What’s going through your head? How are you feeling?”

“I’m pissed,” responded Wallace, who is NASCAR’s only full-time Black driver. “I’m mad because people were trying to test my character and the person I am. They’re not stealing that from me but they’re trying to test that.”

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The NASCAR star also questioned the findings of the FBI investigation.

“From the evidence that we have, that I have, it’s a straight-up noose. The FBI stated that it was a noose. NASCAR said that it was a noose,” he continued. “This isn’t something that can be done within a second of just tying a knot … this is something that took time.”

Some social media users suggested that the FBI was covering up a hate crime, while others said the entire incident was a hoax involving NASCAR or Wallace’s team.

NASCAR and fellow drivers showed solidarity with Wallace on Tuesday when they lined up to help him push his car to the starting line of the Geico 500 race.

Watch the full video below to hear Wallace’s response, via CNN.