The year 2020 was definitely one of the most difficult years for Bubba Wallace. The FBI investigation against NASCAR’s claim of a hanged noose being found at the African-American driver’s garage stirred nasty theories among NASCAR fans. However, around two years after that Wallace feels that there are some things that the entire incident taught him.

While talking about the lessons he learned during that difficult phase of his life, Wallace said; “You always have to just keep your head in the swivel and just look out for self. That’s the important thing in life.” Furthermore, he said that the constant news about him exposed him to a whole new group of people which was quite overwhelming.

He said; “So, you gain a majority of your fan base (from the sport), but you’ve also gained a whole new fan base. Not from that but seeing what all stemmed from it.” Sharing his personal experiences with how the people in his inner circle suddenly changed, Wallace said; “People show their true colors, right? Even close people like they are like ‘Oh yeah, it’s Bubba for you.”

Moreover, he revealed the biggest lesson he learned. He said; “I keep my circles tight and it just got tighter then. And that’s okay with me. But you know shit happens and you grow on and move on from it. It made me more aware of my surroundings in everyday life. So, like I am always who’s here for me and who’s not.”

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What exactly happened with Bubba Wallace?

In June 2020, NASCAR said that a noose was found hanging in Bubba Wallace’s garage at the Talladega Superspeedway. And as a result, protests against hate crimes and demands of banning the Confederate flag at NASCAR races began to surface. However, the FBI reported that the noose was in fact a garage pull that has been tied in a knot.

Moreover, the FBI also said that the knot has been there since October 2019. However, NASCAR stood by its ground about banning the Confederate flag. The governing body announced that it is distancing itself from symbols of slavery and racism. However, even after this, many people criticized Wallace for not ensuring the facts and claimed it all to be a ‘hoax.’

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However, the entire incident did help make the sport more inclusive. As a result of the protests, NASCAR banned the Confederate flag from its races. And Wallace too, on a personal level became more aware of the surroundings.