Why Bubba Wallace Will Worry ‘About Personal Safety’ At NASCAR Races

It’s a shame Bubba Wallace now will look over his shoulder while working.

The NASCAR Cup Series driver told The Athletic’s Jeff Gluck on Friday the potential backlash from his outpsoken views on race threaten his safety so much that he’ll change his behavior at race tracks. Wallace used to visit the infield area of tracks spontaneously after races in order to mingle with fans but he reveals he no longer plans to do so.

Wallace has spoken out against racial injustice and police violence in recent weeks and backed words with actions, which include wearing an “I CAN’T BREATHE” T-shirt prior to Sunday’s race in Atlanta and adorning his No. 43 car with a “Black Lives Matter” paint scheme for Wednesday’s race at Martinsville.

Public opinion appears to have become more sympathetic to Wallace and those who share his views, but that might not be the case among NASCAR’s fan base. NASCAR banned the Confederate flag Wednesday, and the decision prompted NASCAR Truck Series driver Ray Ciccarelli to quit in protest.

Although Twitter largely panned Ciccarelli, Wallace presumably believes that enough people oppose his stance on race to constitute a potential threat to his well-being.

More: NASCAR Reveals Plans To Hold Select Races With Limited Number Of Fans