Bubba Wallace: NASCAR not ignoring 'evil acts' by racing
Bubba Wallace defended NASCAR's decision to race this weekend as numerous NBA, WNBA, MLB, MLS and NHL teams called off games following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
















Blake, a 29-year-old black man, was shot seven times in the back by police officers and paralyzed from the waist down, sparking protests and civil unrest. The incident received nationwide attention and the FBI has since launched a civil rights probe.
Following the lead of the Milwaukee Bucks, several sports teams from various leagues are protesting the shooting by refusing to play Wednesday and Thursday. However, NASCAR will go ahead with its regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway this weekend.
NASCAR loudly voiced their support of the Black Lives Matter movement and their stand against racial injustice earlier this year following the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis PD. The sanctioning body also moved to ban the Confederate Flag from all venues.
Wallace, the only African-American driver at the top level of the sport, was the leading voice on those issues and continued that role Thursday evening with a series of tweets explaining the decision to race this Saturday.
Wallace also took aim at the hypocrisy of those who want to keep political issues out of the sport, yet embraced the presence of President Donald Trump at the Daytona 500 and the sponsorship of the No. 32 GoFAS Racing entry by a pro-Trump Super PAC.
Six-time Formula 1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton has been outspoken on the same issues and also intends to race this weekend in the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps.
He praised the players for standing up and using their voices to push for change, but said: "I don't know how us not doing the race -- it will still go on, it's a thing. But I'll still try and speak to Formula 1 to see what else we can do, to continue to raise awareness, continue to help push."
You can read his complete statement and the reaction from other F1 drivers below:
Read Also:

NASCAR HEAT 5’s second Content Pack available from August 27
Kyle Busch has "no expectations" for the NASCAR playoffs

Latest news
The ex-F1 driver taking on NASCAR with a new team
Saddled with uncompetitive Minardi machinery, Tarso Marques didn't manage to score points in his three partial seasons of Formula 1. But now the Brazilian has the chance to show what he can do in NASCAR, and explains the story of his comeback with new Cup Series entrant Team Stange
The early benefits and challenges of NASCAR's Next Gen car
NASCAR’s new stock car generation is encouraging an influx of fresh blood into its top tier. But there are concerns that parts are in short supply as the entire paddock tries to build up stocks at the same time
How Penske's rookie sensation opened NASCAR's new era in style
After holding his nerve and hip-checking his teammate on the run to the line, Austin Cindric made a perfect start to life as a full-timer in the NASCAR Cup Series by winning the Daytona 500. Here's how the Penske Ford man emerged first across the line in the first points-scoring race for the much-anticipated Next Generation cars
Six key themes to follow in the 2022 NASCAR Cup season
There are plenty of uncertainties ahead of the 2022 NASCAR Cup season as an all-new fleet of cars take to the track for the first time. Ahead of this weekend's Daytona 500, our experts explain what you need to know
How NASCAR had to learn a harsh lesson ahead of Next Gen arrival
The NASCAR Cup kicks off with the Daytona 500 this weekend, but a major engine overhaul and a subsequent mountain of work has been required to be ready for the arrival of the Next Gen cars.
How Larson took the long way round to NASCAR Cup glory
From villain to hero, Kyle Larson had to reach his lifelong goal the hard way and go through a very public shaming after a ban for using a racial slur, but his talents shone long before his name grabbed the headlines...
How NASCAR is gearing up for its "biggest change" in 2022
It’s not just Formula 1 that’s set for upheaval in 2022, as the NASCAR Cup series adopts its Next Gen cars that will cast any in-built advantages aside and require teams to adopt a totally new way of operating. Far more than just a change of machinery, the new cars amount to a shift in NASCAR's core philosophy
Why Bubba Wallace’s Talladega win is such a big moment for NASCAR
Bubba Wallace claimed his maiden NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega on Monday to become the first Black victor in the category since Wendell Scott in 1963. Both Wallace and Scott had faced obstacles and racism in their paths to their breakthrough wins, and NASCAR is trying to put it right with its range of diversity programmes