Every year, NASCAR’s social media platforms will put up a post supporting the LGBTQ+ community, and, without fail, it will be their most hated tweet. So it should come as no surprise that most drivers have not been outspoken about their support for the cause in June, fearing backlash from fans. However, Bubba Wallace, the only active African-American driver in NASCAR’s three national series, has been the exception, playing his role in showing support for Pride Month on social media.

Bubba Wallace champions inclusivity

The concept of inclusivity has polarized opinions within the NASCAR fanbase for years. While the company is steering towards representing all sections of society, the fanbase hasn’t caught on at the same pace. However, Bubba Wallace has been one of the few voices within the NASCAR community who has embraced activism, drawing attention to injustice with the hope of influencing a wider change. Not to mention, Wallace has been the only full-time African American driver in NASCAR’s three national series (Cup, Xfinity, and Truck) each year he has competed in them.

So it should come as no surprise that Bubba Wallace was perhaps the only NASCAR driver to acknowledge Pride Month on social media. When an engineer at 23XI Racing uploaded a tweet that read, “Pride month exists to create a world where everyone feels seen and valued without discrimination and hate. Pride month is for spreading LOVE 🏳️‍🌈”, Bubba Wallace promptly reposted it. By doing so, he expressed his support towards inclusivity and generated awareness about people of all orientations, despite the backlash he may face.

It’s not the first time Bubba Wallace has shown his support for Pride Month. Last year, Truck Series driver and Victoria’s Secret model Toni Breidinger spoke about her respect for Pride Month with WTA. Toni wrote, “Pride Month means love and equality for all. Some of my closest friends are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and they’ve taught me that everybody deserves to be treated equally and that everybody deserves to be loved,” Bubba Wallace was one of the few drivers who lent his hand to the Pride Month initiative, along with Cup Series driver Noah Gragson.

Bubba Wallace’s activism journey

Being the first full-time African-American entry in the NASCAR Cup Series since Wendell Scott in 1971, Bubba Wallace has been a trailblazer in more ways than one. He was the first African-American driver to win a Cup Series race since 1963 and is acutely aware of the position he finds himself in. In a predominantly white sport, Wallace has found his way and hasn’t shied away from speaking up for minorities.

Speaking to BlackBook Motorsport, Bubba Wallace said, “I’m hopefully playing a small part and trying to bring awareness and grow the sport one fan at a time. Knowing the path that Wendell Scott has created for minorities has been a blessing to learn about and an honor to continue that path on. We’ve had a lot of greats come through on the minority side of things and to play a small part in that is really, really special. To have my name in the hat with those guys is incredible.”

Wallace’s journey has been far from smooth, though. On June 21, 2020, while preparing for the Geico 500 in his home state of Alabama, a noose was found hanging in Bubba Wallace’s garage stall by a member of his team. The discovery caused an uproar, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) getting involved.

NASCAR inspected garages at all 29 circuits, finding 11 garages with ropes tied in a knot. Only Bubba Wallace’s garage had a rope tied in a noose. The incident occurred just two weeks after Bubba Wallace’s activism finally convinced NASCAR to get rid of the Confederate flag at some races. Coincidence?

On June 7, 2020, at the Atlanta Speedway, Bubba Wallace was seen sporting a t-shirt with the words ‘I can’t breathe’, a phrase that became synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement. While Wallace has embraced activism, it’s not something he actively set out to do, stating that his focus while growing up was nothing more than being “a young kid that didn’t know much besides racing.”

While NASCAR has made progressive steps over the years, there remains a lot more that needs to be done. Various diversity programs have been rolled out over the years, paving the way for Bubba Wallace and Mexican-born Daniel Suarez to make their way into the United States as well as NASCAR. While issues within the sport are systemic, fans’ outlook can only be changed at a grassroots level. As things stand, there is a long way to go before we see some real change.