NASCAR president: Culprit of noose incident will be ‘banned for life’

By Dominic Aragon and Jonathan Fjeld

NASCAR president Steve Phelps met with members of the media on a teleconference Sunday (June 22) to share more information about the noose found in Bubba Wallace’s team’s garage stall Sunday (June 21) at Talladega Superspeedway.

“NASCAR was made aware that a noose was found in the garage stall of the 43 team,” the sanctioning body said in a statement June 21.

The FBI’s Birmingham, Alabama Field Office is on site at Talladega Superspeedway. The Birmingham office and NASCAR will each be using their full resources to figure out who committed the act. 

Phelps did not elaborate when asked about cameras in the garage area at the speedway, citing the on-going investigation. 

Phelps said he had originally notified Wallace of the act and quickly admonished speculation on the event being staged.

“This is a terrible, terrible act that has happened, and for those that would think that this is staged, I don’t even know where to go with that, frankly,” Phelps said.

NASCAR allowed the team to look at the car Monday morning to ensure nothing had happened to it. NASCAR has also stepped up their efforts after Sunday’s incident.

“We have stepped up security,” Phelps said. “This is a family that needs to take care of one of it’s family members that has been attacked.”

Speaking on a possible ban for the perpetrator of the act, Phelps stated, “Unequivocally, they will be banned from this sport for life.” 

NASCAR spokesperson Eric Nyquest said the investigation remains ongoing as of June 22.

This is a developing story.
SOURCES:
NASCAR
Racing-Reference.Info