NASCAR Investigates Radio Channel Hijacking Targeting Bubba Wallace

2023

In a disturbing incident during Sunday's race at the North Wilkesboro Speedway, someone managed to infiltrate the team radio channel of Bubba Wallace, the only Black driver in NASCAR's top racing series. The perpetrator took the opportunity to deliver a hateful message, stating, "Go back to where you came from asshole. You're not wanted in NASCAR."

NASCAR, along with its security operation, is currently conducting an investigation to identify the individual responsible for hacking into Wallace's radio channel and the method employed to carry out the act. Despite the intrusion, Wallace, who drives for 23XI Racing, did not hear or acknowledge the comments during the race.

As of now, neither NASCAR nor 23XI Racing has made an official statement regarding the incident. Wallace, too, has not publicly addressed the situation. Following the race, he shared a video expressing disappointment at finishing second, remarking on his team's effort and acknowledging the stellar performance of the winning driver, Kyle Larson.

Wallace, NASCAR's sole Black driver, has been an outspoken advocate in recent years. In 2020, he boldly stood against racial injustice and police brutality, wearing an "I Can't Breathe" shirt and displaying a #BlackLivesMatter sticker on his car. He played a pivotal role in the successful campaign to ban the Confederate flag from all NASCAR events.

In the same year, an unsettling incident occurred when a noose was discovered in Wallace's garage at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. While an FBI investigation concluded that it was not a hate crime, deeming the noose to be a pull-down rope for a garage door that had been there since 2019, it raised concerns due to its hangman's knot and the fact that only Wallace's garage had such a rope.

Bubba Wallace has consistently demonstrated courage and integrity, using his platform to shed light on social issues. His unwavering activism challenges the status quo, advocating for what he believes is right rather than being a matter of politics. As the investigation into the radio channel hijacking unfolds, the NASCAR community stands united against any form of discrimination and supports Wallace in his pursuit of justice.