FBI Determines Rope Found in Bubba Wallace’s Garage Has Been There Since October

Just hours after Bubba Wallace appeared on The View to discuss a noose found in his NASCAR garage, a federal investigation has found the organization’s only Black driver is not the victim of a hate crime. Pointing to photographic evidence, officials determined that the rope found hanging in Wallace’s garage was not a noose, but was a door pull that had been there since October 2019, Variety reports.

In his appearance on today’s episode of The View, Wallace recounted hearing about the noose incident from NASCAR President Steve Phelps on Sunday (June 21) before the Geico 500. “The way he called me and his voice, his character at that moment, I didn’t know what to expect,” Wallace said. “He told me what had happened and tears were in his eyes, flowing from him, from the moment he stepped inside my motor home to the time that he left. He was so upset.”

NASCAR released a statement today addressing the official investigation and the FBI’s findings.

“The FBI has completed its investigation at Talladega Superspeedway and determined that Bubba Wallace was not the target of a hate crime,” NASCAR stated. “The FBI report concludes, and photographic evidence confirms, that the garage door pull rope fashioned like a noose had been positioned there since as early as last fall.

“This was obviously well before the 43 team’s arrival and garage assignment,” the statement continued. “We appreciate the FBI’s quick and thorough investigation and are thankful to learn that this was not an intentional, racist act against Bubba. We remain steadfast in our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all who love racing.”

Yesterday (June 22), Phelps promised to ban for life whoever placed the noose in Wallace’s garage. During a call with reporters, the NASCAR president shot down claims the rope had been placed there as a publicity stunt. “Such an idea is something that personally offends me,” he said. “This is a terrible, terrible act that has happened.”

While on The View this morning, Wallace told the women he feels “hurt” after the rope incident. “This just shows how much I have to watch my back,” he said. Wallace said he wasn’t shocked, “because we see the stuff that goes on in the world.” “But it’s just unfortunate that it happened to me and my crew was able to see it and witness that,” he said.

The discovery of what NASCAR suspected was a noose came just weeks after NASCAR banned Confederate flags at its race tracks. The move came days after Wallace called on the organization to ban the flags from racing events. “No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race,” Wallace said at the time. “So it starts with Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They have no place for them.”