NASCAR is investigating after a noose was found in the garage of Bubba Wallace at Talladega Super speedway.
Wallace, a Mobile native and NASCAR's only black driver, said he's "incredibly saddened" and it serves as a reminder of how much further we have to go as a society. Wallace recently led the push to have Confederate flags banned at races.
NASCAR said in a release that it is "angry and outraged" and described the gesture as "heinous."
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey issued a statement, saying "Racism and threats of this nature will not be condoned nor tolerated, and I commit to assisting in any way possible to ensure that the person responsible for this is caught and punished."
The Governor added, "Bubba Wallace is one of us; he is a native of Mobile and on behalf of all Alabamians, I apologize to Bubba Wallace as well as to his family and friends for the hurt this has caused and regret the mark this leaves on our state."
(Photo credit: Getty Images Jared C. Tilton/Stringer)