An Alabama NASCAR Driver Will Race In A Black Lives Matter Car Today For Racial Equality

NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace could be considered a bit of a pioneer. He's the only black NASCAR racer currently in the Cup Series, as well as a leading force in the sport’s actions surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement. At an upcoming race at the Martinsville Speedway this evening, Wallace will continue to push for racial equality by sporting a car with a brand-new custom paint job.

“I think it’s gonna speak volumes to what I stand for, but also the initiative that NASCAR is trying to push,” Wallace told Richard Petty Motorsports in an interview, who had a hand in the design, as he commented on the finished rendering.

Tonight, June 10 at 7 p.m., the Alabama native will see the car in person for the first time, racing it at The Blue Emu Maximum Pain Relief race.

Wallace also explained where the thought to race in a blacked-out car came from.

Inspired by Blackout Tuesday, a movement on social media where black squares were posted to support the movement, Wallace's team came to him with the idea, which he said he quickly jumped all over.

“Why not dive in straight to the root and putting ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the car," said Wallace. "All lives will not matter until black lives matter."

The hood of the car features a black and white fist embracing with the words “compassion, love, understanding” beneath it.

The hashtag #BlackLivesMatter runs along both sides near the tail end, as well as a peace sign with hands of all colors making up the inside of it.

The racer expressed that by including the Black Lives Matter hashtag, he hopes to bring more awareness to the movement and prompt people to look into what it means.

Standing up for what he believes in seems to be no novel thing for Wallace.

The number 43 driver also pushed for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag at events. He was even seen at last Sunday’s race wearing a black t-shirt displaying the words uttered by the late George Floyd in the streets of Minneapolis, “I Can’t Breathe.”

“It’s gonna be a special day,” Wallace said. “Mother nature playing a factor of course. Shouldn’t be too much of an issue and we’ll go out and have a good run.”