The FBI on Tuesday concluded their investigation and revealed the rope which was found tied like a noose in the garage stall of NASCAR driver Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. was not a federal crime.
NASCAR confirmed shortly after it was a “pull rope,” which was found in Wallace’s number 4 stall at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday.
While NASCAR continued to refer to the rope as a “noose” in their statement, the FBI explained the apparatus was installed last year. The team at Wood Brothers Racing told NASCAR on Monday, and thus aided the FBI investigation, a crew member recalled seeing it in 2019. Wood Brothers occupied the same number 4 garage stall at Talladega as Wallace did this weekend.
Well, the FBI’s development prompted a flurry of social media reaction, as countless Twitter users weighed in.
Some looked at the investigation’s findings in a positive light, saying the fact it wasn’t a hate crime was a good thing. They noted NASCAR’s response was equally impressive.
NASCAR acted quickly & erred on side of caution for obvious & tangible reasons. FBI conducted a thorough investigation that concluded it wasn’t a hate crime. Which should be a good thing.
Yet people on here dragging NASCAR, Bubba Wallace & media?
You’re telling on yourself.
— Jorge Sedano (@Sedano) June 23, 2020
I’m relieved to hear this wasn’t a hate crime and I’m still so proud of how our sport came together yesterday. https://t.co/I2KzARnonx
— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) June 24, 2020
Relieved to know this was a huge misunderstanding, and there is no one in our garage area that did something like what most people originally thought happened. Doesn’t change a thing about the amazing sights we saw yesterday. Hopefully we continue to move forward from here.
— Freddie Kraft (@FreddieKraft) June 23, 2020
The best news possible came from the FBI investigation, and I am so happy for @BubbaWallace & @NASCAR that there was no hate crime, or any ill will.
That is wonderful.
Sunday & Monday I defended the sport passionately that it is not a racist arena.
I'm glad that proved accurate.— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) June 23, 2020
Finally some good news pic.twitter.com/kbv2i5ksPN
— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) June 23, 2020
Feel bad for Bubba Wallace who had to go through this but the best result is that it was a misunderstanding that NASCAR and its community took very seriously. https://t.co/FzXmnkyzzM
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) June 23, 2020
Man I absolutely hate what happened with @nascar. Doesn’t change the fact that @BubbaWallace :
-didn’t ask for this attention
-handled all of it with class and dignity
-will now receive totally unjustified hate thrown his way
-needs love and support more than ever— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) June 23, 2020
Best possible outcome — was not a hate crime AND @NASCAR used all of their resources and took it seriously. But what a tough 48hrs for @bubbawallace — I hope he was in some way comforted by the outpouring of love and support.
— Elle Duncan (@elleduncanESPN) June 23, 2020
Yes, a small garage door rope handle was glorfied into a full blown “noose”. The story blew up to a race-baiting fueled debate.
BUT, was it bad? No, it wasn’t. It showed how much the sport, drivers, teams and fans rallied beyond our only black driver. #NASCAR @BubbaWallace pic.twitter.com/mIgQ8Nj5N9
— Track Sweeper (@TrackSweeper) June 23, 2020
And then there were those who referred the whole story as a “hoax,” while others wondered whether NASCAR jumped to conclusions.
#NASCAR story w/ #BubbaWallace makes no sense. If I'm a NASCAR official and someone reports to me that they found a noose in one of the garages, wouldnt I ask them to show me the noose? And wouldn't it be obvious within 10 ns that the noose was in fact just an ordinary pull rope?
— J I Walkup (@jwalkup) June 23, 2020
Everyone has their own opinions, right? We’ll leave it at that.
