NASCAR fires back at Donald Trump after he attacks Bubba Wallace
This morning Donald Trump viciously and dishonestly attacked NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, in yet another attempt at starting a racist feud with yet another famous black sports figure. What makes it different this time is that NASCAR is a nearly all-white sport, and a heavily Republican one at that. But Trump is essentially forcing the drivers to choose him or Wallace, and thus far at least some of them are emphatically choosing Wallace.
NASCAR used its official Twitter account to post the hashtag #WeStandWithBubba. NASCAR also issued this official statement, according to NBC News: “We are proud to have Bubba Wallace in the NASCAR family and we commend his courage and leadership. NASCAR continues to stand tall with Bubba, our competitors and everyone who makes our sport welcoming and inclusive for all racing fans.”
Individuals within the NASCAR community also took various stands. NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick tweeted “We don’t need an apology. We did what was right and we will do just fine without your support.” He later deleted that tweet, but he left intact this retweet: “There is nothing to apologize for when: — Taking a perceived threat seriously — People show support for one another — Making policy to be more inclusive & more welcoming — Doing what you feel is right, regardless of any perceived business consequences.”
NASCAR star Jimmie Johnson tweeted the #IStandWithBubba hashtag. Richard Petty Motorsports, which owns Bubba Wallace’s car, also tweeted the hashtag. Drivers from other racing leagues got involved as well. IndyCar driver JR Hildebrand tweeted “I mean, if I was going to be this late to a party I’d probably just skip it.” He also added the #IStandWithBubba hashtag.
It’s not clear what Donald Trump is hoping to accomplish by forcing NASCAR drivers to choose between him and Bubba Wallace, or if Trump is thinking through anything he says or does at this point. Trump isn’t even trying to win anymore, which makes him potentially even more dangerous between now and election day.
