Bubba 'Smollett' Wallace Booed At NASCAR All-Star Race Qualifier, Cheered After Crash

Bubba Wallace took some heat before he competed in the NASCAR All-Star Open, which was the race to qualify for the main event at Bristol Motor Speedway on Wednesday. AP Sports reporter Jenna Fryer covered the event and wrote on Twitter that fans booed Wallace when he was introduced. And when he crashed 17 laps into the race, the crowd began cheering.

Bubba Wallace was also booed when he was introduced, and many cheered when he crashed. NASCAR still has a lot of work to do to back up its position. The group Justice 4 Diversity held signs along Speedway Blvd. after the race.

— Jenna Fryer (@JennaFryer) July 16, 2020

"Bubba Wallace was also booed when he was introduced, and many cheered when he crashed," Fryer wrote. "NASCAR still has a lot of work to do to back up its position. The group Justice 4 Diversity held signs along Speedway Blvd. after the race." After the ace, Wallace called out Michael McDowell for causing him to crash and lose out on a chance to win $1 million. "Just disrespect. When you get hooked the right rear into the wall - I don't even need to see a replay," Wallace said. "People say [he's] one of the nicest guys in the garage. Can't wait for the God-fearing text he's going to send me about preaching and praising respect. What a joke he is."

A big crash involving @BubbaWallace and @Mc_Driver!

Our first caution of the night is out in the All-Star Open at @BMSupdates. pic.twitter.com/W8OoykuuFs

— NASCAR Alerts (@NASCAR_Alerts) July 15, 2020

Someone is currently flying around the Bristol Motor Speedway with a Confederate flag banner.

This comes after NASCAR’s decision last month to ban the display of Confederate flags at its events. pic.twitter.com/zjicfr0sWf

— Tim Dodson (@Tim_Dodson) July 15, 2020

Adding to the Confederate symbolism at tonight’s event in Bristol, several trucks displaying the flag drove past the stadium right before the race was about to start. Here’s part of the group of vehicles I saw: pic.twitter.com/TW4QA83lUs

— Tim Dodson (@Tim_Dodson) July 16, 2020

I walked a little closer to the road and there were more: pic.twitter.com/5g9VoCVAFh

— Tim Dodson (@Tim_Dodson) July 16, 2020