A moment that could have ended up being NASCAR’s demise has become a sort of awakening.
First, it was banning the Confederate flag. Then it was a strong renouncing of the racist act of a noose being placed in Bubba Wallace’s garage. And then it was the entire sport backing Wallace in a symbolic moment in the deep south, in Alabama.
Talladega Superspeedway is part of the heart and soul of NASCAR. It’s where the cars go their fastest and the wrecks are just known as the “big one.”
On Monday, there were new fans of NASCAR and Bubba Wallace and a new culture around the sport cheering on No. 43, a car famous for being handled by one of the greatest of them all in Richard Petty. He’s a hero to some of those same Confederate flag-waving protesters outside the track. And there was Petty, now the owner of that car standing side by side with the only Black driver in the top stock car racing series.
While some swore off NASCAR due to racist acts from some of its supposed biggest fans, I think it’s time to support its leadership to shut the door on intolerance and open the door to inclusion.
That’s something the sport has needed to do for far too long.