An offensive message was broadcast on Bubba Wallace’s radio network Sunday at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and NASCAR opened an investigation Wednesday into how that surfaced on the racing team’s channel.
“Return to where you got here from, you a–hole,” the person said after Wallace finished as a runner-up, based on Motorsport.com. “You’re not wanted in NASCAR.”
In response to the Associated Press, NASCAR spokesman Mike Forde said that Wallace didn’t hear the comment and the safety and racing electronic teams began monitoring the radio channel comment.
“We actually take that seriously, little doubt about that,” Forde said, based on the AP. “But we will’t have fans interfering with team radio and potential competition implications.”
The AP also reported that 23XI Racing — which Wallace joined in September under the ownership of Michael Jordan (No. 23) and Denny Hamlin (No. 11) — is “confident with [NASCAR’s] handling of the situation.”
It was a part of an eventual All-Star weekend for Wallace, who also made headlines for discretely sticking up his middle finger during a post-race interview.
Wallace finished second within the All-Star feature race behind Kyle Larson and one spot ahead of 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick.
“All in all, happy with the hassle,” Wallace said following the All-Star race in a Twitter video. “… It just wasn’t meant to be. [Larson] was lights out, and we were the very best of the remaining, so I suppose we may be proud about that.”
NASCAR revealed earlier within the week that Wallace wouldn’t be penalized, despite the incontrovertible fact that the gesture was captured in the course of the live Fox Sports interview because the reporter turned to ask an issue.
In response to Fox Sports’ NASCAR reporter, “it’s NASCAR’s understanding he was gesturing to a friend and while inappropriate, it wasn’t done malicious.”
Wallace was also greeted with boos from the group when he was introduced, based on the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, and Wallace responded by mocking the group and pretending to wipe tears from his eyes.
Wallace, the lone full-time black driver in NASCAR’s top racing circuit, has endured years of harsh treatment from NASCAR supporters, especially after he helped get the Confederate flag banned from the races in 2020.
NASCAR famously investigated a “noose” being present in Wallace’s garage at Talladega Superspeedway in Jun. 2020, though it was later determined to be an unfortunately tied door pull.
