They say time heals all wounds. However, if the response Bubba Wallace received at the track on Sunday is any indication, NASCAR fans are still quite upset with him.
In the summer of 2020, Bubba Wallace reported that someone had left a noose in his garage, suggesting a hate crime. The incident added more stress to an already tense and anxious summer. A substantial investigation ensued, involving 15 FBI agents, who determined that the “noose” was actually a pull rope used to close the garage door.
This episode didn’t win over NASCAR fans at all, and the negative feelings seem to persist.
Fast-forward to Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star race in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, where Wallace was introduced to a crowd that was, to put it mildly, not very welcoming.
#NASCAR … Crowd reaction to Bubba Wallace in drivers intros at North Wilkesboro pic.twitter.com/GoXxduD4PA
— Dustin Long (@dustinlong) May 20, 2024
Wallace, equipped with a body cam, then (bravely) left the stage to interact directly with the fans.
Guess who lost the fan vote Ὀ pic.twitter.com/sf7kcpmzz7
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) May 20, 2024
Is it time to mend fences with Wallace? Perhaps. However, it seems likely that he wouldn’t prefer it. Judging by his onstage behavior, he appears to be embracing the villain role and seems comfortable being “that guy.”
NASCAR is a sport that benefits from having a villain anyway.
