The ban on the confederate flags was announced in June 2020, just before the Cup Series event at Martinsville Speedway. Bubba Wallace, driving for Petty Motorsports at the time, showed up with his #43 car in a black paint scheme, with the words “Compassion, Love, Understanding” written on the hood and the logo of the Black Lives Matter movement on the sides.

Bubba Wallace discusses how he deals with the responsibility of being the only black driver

While the Duel 1 at Daytona winner Bubba Wallace isn’t the only black NASCAR driver, he is the only black racer at the Cup Level. He explained that while he did feel some responsibility for how he portrayed himself, he also had the intent of being a force in the sport, which sometimes involved crossing lines.

“I sense a responsibility there to carry myself the right way, but also show that I’m here to stay and make a name for myself as well so the only way to create boundaries is to cross them and figure out what to do and what not to do. So, I’ve made some mistakes along the way but it’s shaped me, helped me become who I am today.”

 

Apart from Bubba Wallace, the other full-time driver who is black is Rajah Caruth, who races for Spire Motorsports, driving their #71 truck in the Truck Series.