A Whelen Modified Tour crew member has been informed by NASCAR that he must take mandatory steps before he will be allowed to acquire a 2023 NASCAR Member’s license following a racially insensitive social media post last week.
The post was made to Instagram and Facebook on Jan. 30 by Wayne “Muffy” Wildermuth, who has served as a spotter for driver Matt Hirschman in selected Whelen Modified Tour events in recent years.
The meme that Wildermuth shared showed a photo of a four-way lug nut remover on the ground with a caption that read “Breaking: Bubba Wallace finds burnt cross in his garage stall.”
Wallace is the only black driver who competes full-time in NASCAR’s premier level Cup Series.
Wildermuth posted the meme in question on Facebook and Instagram with the words: “This was sent to me today. Sorry if it offends anyone, but I couldn’t resist sharing it. Too funny.” The posts have since been removed.
Section 12-8 of the Whelen Modified Tour rulebook covers NASCAR Member Conduct.
Section A of rule 12-8 reads: “NASCAR membership is a privilege. With that privilege comes certain benefits, responsibilities and obligations. Correct and proper conduct, both on and off the race track, is a part of a Member’s responsibilities. A Member’s actions can reflect upon the sport as a whole and on other NASCAR Members. Ideally, NASCAR Members are role models for the many fans who follow this sport, regardless of the type of license a Member may hold, or the specific Series in which a Member may participate. Therefore, NASCAR views a Member’s conduct, both on and off the race track, which might constitute a behavioral Rules violation under this Rule Book with great importance.”
Section E of rule 12-8 reads “NASCAR Members shall not make or cause to be made a public statement and/or communication that criticizes, ridicules, or otherwise disparages another person based upon that person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age or handicapping condition.”
The Whelen Modified Tour kicks off its 2023 season on Saturday at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway. Hirschman won the Whelen Modified Tour event at New Smyrna last year. Hirschman told RaceDayCT Monday that his brother, Tony Hirschman III, would be spotting for him in Saturday’s event at New Smyrna.
“We are aware of the situation and it is under review,” Matt Hirschman said.
NASCAR does not typically issue formal penalties to anyone that is not a current NASCAR Member. Wildermuth currently does not hold a 2023 NASCAR License.
Attempts to reach Wildermuth on Monday were not successful. NASCAR has spelled out a package of terms and conditions that must be met by Wildermuth before he can be issued a 2023 NASCAR Membership. In situations recently involving similar questionable social media posts individuals have been ordered to go through sensitivity training at the direction of NASCAR.
The particular meme posted by Wildermuth first showed up on social media in June 2020. The meme makes light of a situation from June 21, 2020 when a crew member for Wallace’s Richard Petty Motorsports team found what was suspected to be a noose hanging in a garage stall where Wallace’s team was parked at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
The hangman’s noose is considered a symbol of hate directed toward African-Americans, evoking the history of lynchings of black citizens for decades following the Civil War.
An investigation by the FBI and NASCAR later determined what was in Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega was a pull-down rope for a door in the bay where Wallace’s car was parked which had been tied into a noose. It was determined it had been there since at least October 2019.
Although Wallace wasn’t the person that reported the noose, and wasn’t even in the garage on the day it was reported, Wallace became the target for many critical of the situation and NASCAR’s reaction to it.
The image of a burning cross is considered a hate symbol by many in the US. Cross-burnings were a common activity of the Ku Klux Klan across the country for many years and are widely associated with racial intimidation.
Wallace now competes for 23XI Racing, which is owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin.
Wallace’s spotter Freddie Kraft, a former spotter among the Modified ranks in the Northeast, talked about social media hate directed at Wallace during a recent episode of Unmuffled. Kraft’s comments came just a few hours before Wildermuth made the posts.
“There’s been instances inside the sport where you’re like ‘Wow, I can’t really believe that guy just said that.’” Kraft said. “I see it all the time. It pops up on Facebook. Some of the times on Facebook it’s people that I know, that I’ve known for a long time. … You can say anything you want about Bubba, driving-wise. Terrible driver, great driver, whatever you want to say. Once any kind of race comes into it, I don’t understand that correlation.”
Matt Hirschman is also expected to compete in five consecutive nights of Tour Type Modified division events from Feb. 13 to Feb. 17 at New Smyrna as part of the track’s annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. The Tour Type Modified events at the track for the World Series week are sanctioned by NASCAR. Matt Hirschman is annually one of the top competitors in Tour Type Modified events at the World Series.
Oh, he’s a role model alright, depending on your perspective. In other news, Trump, Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani, Roger Stone, and Paulie Manafort, are all okay with it and will be campaigning for Muffy.
Is anyone surprised????
WOW. NASCAR try’s to punish a person that is not a current member of theirs. Good luck getting his renewal. Last time I checked this was still a free country and freedom of speech is still protected by the US constitution. I’m not saying what he did was wrong or right. It seems it might be in poor taste but then that type of determination does lie in the eyes of the beholder doesn’t it? People do not have to read other people posts on any social media. Perhaps NASCAR should not? Trump should have stayed off social media. So should Joe.
Social media is something I pretty much avoid because of how people can take things right or wrong. It must be hard to be a stand up comedian . . . . .
Pete,
Let’s first go after your invoking of the Constitution and the term “free speech”, which you claim the Constitution protects.
The First Amendment says: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
“Free Speech” means the Constitution protects you from wrongful incrimination by the government for what you say. The First Amendment doesn’t allow you as a citizen to say what you want, where you want, when you want and face no repercussions for such acts. If you walk into your bosses office and tell him he’s a jerk and he fires you for it, you can’t claim he’s infringing upon your rights to free speech.
So no, posting on social media is not close to being considered free speech protected by the Constitution.
Secondly, NASCAR is a private company and thus has every right to set their rules for participation freely and they have the right to decide if they feel like the actions of someone previously warrant them not being granted the right to participate in competition under their watch. It’s not really a punishment if the person involved doesn’t have any interest in participating in an event sanctioned by NASCAR. If the person in question here doesn’t want to get a NASCAR license then he doesn’t have to do anything asked of him by NASCAR.
You have a law degree? College degree? High School graduate? Anything past 8th grade? People can say and post what they want to. No one has to read it. The delete button can sometimes be used. NASCAR is a joke. They should be concerned about racing. If the guy was a driver maybe then they could try to punish him. A certain driver they punished proceeded to tear up the sprint car world and other events. They let him back into their good ol’ boys club . . . . . ever wonder why?
Pete,
Understanding the most basic words of the Constitution has nothing do with having any sort of degree. It’s pretty simple really. Yes, people can say and post what they want to, BUT, the Constitution does not protect you from repercussions or punishment from those things you post. It protects you from prosecution by the government, but that’s about it. This is like Introduction To Civics for seventh graders. It’s amazing how most people who so often invoke “the Constitution” or claim their “Free Speech is being infringed” don’t have a basic understanding of the Constitution or what Free Speech actually means.
Pete, you live where conspiracies grow wild like the rice.
If you are a citizen of the USA, you are obligated to conform to the Constitution, or you can leave.
No matter your level of education, or lack of, you are still required to conform to the Constitution. You can’t say you didn’t know. Ignorance of the law is no excuse.
The Free Speech amendment has nothing do between private entities. It is to protect citizens in that they can say what they want about the Government and not fear reprisal. The reason for this was that England, the country our predecessors fled from, would execute people for speaking out against the Government and its chosen religion.
NASCAR is a private club and can set rules for who can and can’t participate. NASCAR has expelled people before. MLB has expelled Pete Rose. It happens all over, all the time.
So why not answer my questions first?
Companies try lots of crap. Keeps all the lawyers busy. The forced covid shots are starting to find their way into the court rooms now. HIPPA folks are headed their eventually too.
Odds are he will ignore them like most of us do and it will their loss in my opinion.
Pete, pay attention. The reason your questions were not answered is because they were rendered moot with the 1A explanations. You are welcome. Now go get a dictionary.
Dictionary? LOL so you never graduated. DUH!
Pete, your questions are desperate attempts at deflecting away from the racism. And your questions are stupid, and irrelevant.
You don’t know what free speech is, and NASCAR exercising rules to reject riff-raff is allowable, free speech does not apply. Just like Shawn has banned folks from this wonderful site.
It’s really pretty dumb that people are still getting in trouble for crap like this. Not because sanctioning bodies are being over sensitive- society should be leaning in the direction of overcorrecting following centuries of cruel oppression. The reason people should not be getting in trouble for this is because they really should know better by now.
First of all this was a really REALLY stupid meme to look at and go, “I just can’t help myself because IT’S TOO FUNNY IT MUST BE SEEN!” More than that anyone with two braincells to rub together should be able to reason that if something is funny because it references behavior of the KKK it probably shouldn’t be shared. But for some strange unknowable reason people keep sharing this crap.
The opening NASCAR modified tour race of the year is only days away (Saturday the 11th) and now the defending races winner is tossed. Kind of an obstacle being thrown in the way of the “invader” Money Matt. Ad some more drama to the mix.
Seriously doubt NASCAR will rush to reinstate him now, betting he will be missing this race. I’m sure Matt will find a qualified spotter to replace him.
Joke yes, distasteful yes, regrettable? I’d bet yes. Unfortunate chain of events
Heh heh heh . . . . using a screen name and making all kinds of crazy statements and accusations from me asking your education level . . . . . . seems like you need professional help. Good luck in life.
This seems fishy, somebody had to walk this to Nascar on purpose. I see negative comments about Wallace everywhere are all those people suspended by Nascar?
It literally does not take more the 30 seconds to bring up and read what the right to free speech constitutes even if you don’t believe the person correcting you. Why is it that every time we see that particular card played it’s invariably misinterpreted in defense of some expression or racially or religious tinged expression of intolerance or derision?
I find it mind numbingly obtuse to question a persons educational level, that really has nothing to do with the topic at hand, while trying to advance a position that at it’s core is a vivid demonstration of one’s own ignorance.
“But for some strange unknowable reason people keep sharing this crap.”
It’s worth pointing out that computers and smartphones are not equipped with breathalizers.
I’ve been intimately involved with computerized forums since before the public internet, as in the days where one person at a time could connect to computerized bulletin boards via landline and a dial up modem.
I’m not saying this was the case here, but in many cases people say, write, and do stupid things when their inhibitions are down. Unfortunately, once something hits the internet today, it goes far and wide at the speed of light. On top of that, it’s often archived forever and impossible to take back.
Don’t worry, Wildamuff is having a laugh with all this attention. Back with his tribe, they are all laughing their collective asses off. They know NASCAR and other sanctioning bodies won’t do anything about it.
I can only imagine the posters they have hanging in the garage.
Really enjoying some of the commentary over the last day or more accurately responses to unfortunate incidents. Suitcase Jake sticks out for his comments on Have Gun Will Travel starring Kyle Busch. Marshall dug deep in this thread to get to the heart of the issue so well done.
Muffy Wildermuth I’d guess is a great spotter although spotting for the master of modifieds seems more like playing with house money. Or maybe the opposite because you’re expected to be as much of a perfectionist as Hirschman is. Anyway Wildermuth who unabashedly shares most of his thoughts and feelings on Facebook is a character and a man child really. Hates the Cowboy’s maybe even more then Biden if you can believe that. A continuous stream of memes some very entertaining, some pretty vulgar and probably not a whole lot of thought going into any of them. He passed on the Wallace meme probably without thinking since it tickled his funny bone. The core of the meme was incorrect because it was not Wallace that notified NASCAR in the original noose incident but that’s not what’s in play here.
I’m really hoping the man child Wildermuth shows that when the chips are down he’s a stand up guy and does the right thing here even if he interprets the steps NASCAR laid out as over kill.
Moreover I don’t even want to contemplate Hirschman getting huffy about the whole thing and pulling out of any NWMT races. That would be a disaster in my view.
Take the medicine, swallow hard no matter how bad it tastes and move on. The sport will be better for it.
That stupid meme was a dumb ass, unthinking blind side on a guy that endures that crap all the time. If the cure is over kill then fine. Open wide, swallow hard and move on.
Congratulations to NASCAR for making the point right out of the gate for the 2023 season no matter how it all turns out.
To add to Barry’s comments.
Ever have a CB radio, or listen in on one? It’s the complete anonymity and impunity one has that enables the completely stupid 💩 that people can’t stop spewing on the radio. The relentless threatening is comical, they know they will never meet face-to-face, hence the infinite bravado.
But to do it online, with a name associated is breathtaking. The idiocy, arrogance, and belligerence is on full display. So proud.
That a sanctioning body might allow such a person to participate is stunning. But then, Wildamuff works tracks in regions where this behavior is the norm, surrounded by tribes just like him. There are many regions that are still flying Trump flags and banners, and have been flying Trump 2024 banners.
So it looks like Wildamuff will be required to attend an idiocy deprogramming session. Good luck with that. Suspend him for the first half of the season, that will send a message. Wildamuff thinks he can shoot someone on Fifth Ave. and nothing would happen to him. Did Wildamuff graduate from Trump University? I hope he doubles down on the idiocy.
Hey Wildamuff, are you the least racist person you know?
And just an FYI… I call out idiots when face-to-face. Idiots know what they are doing, they know most people are taught from a young age to be quiet, and don’t tattle-tale. When confronted, they run like cockroaches when the light is turned on.
“The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.” – Albert Einstein
“If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.” – Albert Einstein
What a dope. But, the real question is, what will Tri-Track do, if anything, and what about Stafford for the Sizzler? NASCAR has set a standard here if Matt doesn’t tell him to stay away.
I’ll be shocked if a man like he appears to be gives in to NASCRAP.
Pete,
I’ll be the first to say I quite enjoy a nice debate, but you are the picture perfect illustration of why intelligent civil debate is basically impossible to have these days with so many people. You debate with information that you literally just make up out of the clear blue sky or you just throw out random “talking point terms” that have become more stale than the English Muffins for sale at Dollar General.
So Pete, let’s go over the timeline of your arguments here.
You started out by saying NASCAR wasn’t allowed to mandate a required course of sensitivity training before allowing someone to acquire a membership license. What you said was wrong, is based in zero truth, fact or legal grounds. Then you said the person in question had his Constitutional rights as a US Citizen infringed upon. And that was wrong, based in zero truth, fact or legal grounds.
Then you followed that up by saying people can post anything they want on social media and face no repercussions for it because the Constitution protects them. And that was wrong, based in zero truth, fact or legal grounds.
Then after posting two comments full of inaccurate information you do what people like you do so often when trying to debate with information that is all factually untrue and you get called out for that. You wildly pivoted to something having nothing to do with the debate but has become a stale talking point whenever someone of your type gets cornered in an argument. All of the sudden you went from telling us false information about how a private company can be run and how the Constitution works to Covid shots and references to “HIPPA” laws. Just for future reference when you’re arguing with your stale talking points, it’s actually HIPAA (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996). I mean if you’re going to use this stale reference to obnoxiously try to change the subject because you’ve been proven wrong, at least get the acronym correct. Then you followed up by accusing someone of needing “professional help” because they wouldn’t answer your question about a college degree. And after all that, you came back with your latest comment, stating you don’t think the person in question will give in to the private company.
I’m dizzy from your purely asinine line of comments on this matter.
Thanks. Obviously you are in a unique space yourself. Have another of whatever you are using.
Pete,
And now you’re accussing me of being under the influence of a substance? You certainly just keep proving the point I was making.
LOL you think I care what you think or that anyone else does? I doubt they even read it. I suspect you are the only one taking your posts seriously . . . . or mine! LOL.
Pete,
Again, you certainly just keep proving the point I was making. You should take a break from here. Maybe go study what the Constitution actually means rather than just making up what you want to think it means. After that, go look up what HIPAA is too, since you seem to struggle with that one also. Have a great day bud.
I’ve grown tired of laughing at you but enjoy poking at you. Almost to easy. I always have a great day . . . . . .
Pete,
That sentence should read: Almost “too” easy. Add that to your homework assignments. So now you’ve got to study what the Constitution actually means, not just what you decided it means. You need to find out what HIPAA actually means, since apparently it’s just a term you heard while watching Newsmax that you don’t really know what it is. And also you can work on the difference between to and too. Here, I can give you an example on how TO use it correctly in a sentence. When Pete comes TO RaceDayCT TO leave comments they are usually filled with TOO many things that he just makes up that aren’t actually true. I hope that helps. Again, have a great rest of the day.
looks to me like NASCAR is distancing itself from a troublemaker ,, would not be surprised to see more of the same from others ,, we all need to (at least) try to be careful with our actions these days..
Pete wrote, “I’ll be shocked if a man like he appears to be gives in to NASCRAP.”
What kind of a man does he appear to be?
Pete, answer the questions.
NAZI?
White supremacist?
Christo-fascist?
Opportunist?
Other?
Go ahead, make the list.
Just as the TSA has a no-fly list, NASCAR needs to implement a No-Membership list to keep this ilk far away.
American you idiot!
Why is it Mr. Courchesne a very high percentage of people these days have such a hard time admitting they’re wrong? Why is it for some folks when they’re corrected can’t consider the merits of the information but rather go into an immediate defensive posture. It seems to follow the same pattern. Not just in this forum but in any where opposing opinions are debated. The person knows they’re incorrect but instead of appreciating the information lashes out like they’ve been insulted. Then it devolves into any number of things from personal insults to deflections, irrelevant issues and all kinds of malarkey.
Why is it so hard to say good point, I stand corrected.
Some people think there is a right and a wrong when there is not. Opinions are like rear-ends. Everyone has one. Some people are one.
The opening NASCAR modified tour race of the year is only days away (Saturday the 11th) and now the defending races winner is tossed. Kind of an obstacle being thrown in the way of the “invader” Money Matt.
Really Stu, so NASCAR is doing this so Matt Hirschman, the INVADER won’t win???? WOW!
wmass01013,
I didn’t read Stu’s comment to be saying that NASCAR was doing anything to purposely stop Matt Hirschman from winning. I think he was just basically saying that it was probably an unexpected mess for the team in preparation for the first race of the season.
Correct me if i’m wrong guys, but wasn’t Wildermuth in some kind of trouble last year for posting something about Hirschman, or the team, or a race? Hasn’t he been the subject of controversy before this with the keyboard, with his own team before this latest post?
Bobf,
Last July, after an event at Star Speedway, he posted on Facebook accusing Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series officials of fixing the outcome of their events and also said series officials conspired before events to plan out certain penalties to call against Matt Hirschman.
7/25/2022 RaceDayCT
“Despicable Accusations From Matt Hirschman Camp Turning Controversy Into Bitterly Nasty Escapade”
After a pit road penalty on Hirschman at the SBM 125 at Star Wildermuth teed off on the MMTTS with some pretty bizarre social media commentary on the motivations of the series management.
So what’s next punish a driver or team because of their fan’s opinions? While what he did is in poor taste to some folks, what about the others? I’ll call it micro managing social media. Who put NASCRAP in charge of being their police force?
Pete wrote, “American you idiot!”
So would that be a NAZI American?
A white supremacist American?
A crazy white American?
A Christo-fascist American?
An opportunist American?
An American like you?
A Chad?
C’mon Pete, explain, answer the questions.
One can only wonder if the Monaco series, the Stafford Opens, and others will allow Wildamuff to participate in their events.
Social media is also known as a stupidometer, and some people can really bury the needle.
Pete, you just keep doubling down on the fun here.
Punish a driver or team because of a fan’s opinion? You’re just really throwing anything at the wall here to see if might stick? Which part of, it’s a private company and they can set their own rules and standards for participation are you not understanding? The individual in question needs to have an approved member’s license to participate. If the company doesn’t deem him as fit for that privilege because they don’t agrees with his actions or they’re worried about the trouble he could potentially cause, they have every right to deny him that license. I’m not even going to comment on your silly charade about the meme being “poor taste”
Shawn and Doug, thanks for the memory jog.
Pete wrote, “So what’s next punish a driver or team because of their fan’s opinions?”
Pete, your fast and furious attempts at diversion, distraction, misinformation and disinformation are hilarious, and you are making yourself look like a giant Qanon fool. As only a fool can do.
Wildamuff is not a fan, but is supposed to be a member of Hirschman’s crew, specifically the spotter.
But keep spewing all the conspiracies.
You are your own victim.
Darealgoodfella,
It is my understanding that the management of the Monaco Modified Tri-Track Series is reviewing options concerning how they will handle any possibe penalties. Obviously their season doesn’t get started until late May, so I think they have plenty of time to handle the matter.
Hey, the tour is going to Florida, where woke goes to die. The speedway owner has assured me Mr Muffy is welcome to buy a general admission grandstand ticket, bring his radio paraphernalia, and babble away. If not I will be diverting one way bus rides from Texas to the beach, and that’s not Rehoboth Beach.
Some folks just can’t move on. It is easy to skip his lame attempts thankfully.
Pete,
You’re the one that continues to come back and leave the same asinine comments about how NASCAR shouldn’t be allowed to regulate participation.
You said yesterday that you’re only continuing to leave comments to be an antagonizer. Basically you’re admitting you’re just being a troll for reaction, and obviously you’ve made it clear you don’t want to move on. So you’re done with comments on this thread. And I’m sure you’ll say your Constitutional rights are being infringed upon. And no, they’re not. Have a great day.
Desantis 2024,
A few questions:
Can you define what the term “woke” means to you?
In your opinion, what takes place in other places that doesn’t take place in Florida?
If what was posted should be considered acceptable and normal behavior, why would the person who posted it then remove it?
Pete wrote,
“WOW. NASCAR try’s to punish a person that is not a current member of theirs. Good luck getting his renewal. Last time I checked this was still a free country and freedom of speech is still protected by the US constitution. I’m not saying what he did was wrong or right. It seems it might be in poor taste but then that type of determination does lie in the eyes of the beholder doesn’t it? People do not have to read other people posts on any social media. Perhaps NASCAR should not? Trump should have stayed off social media. So should Joe.
Social media is something I pretty much avoid because of how people can take things right or wrong. It must be hard to be a stand up comedian . . . . .”
No, NASCAR is not trying to punish someone that is not currently a member. Just letting it be known that this person that has been a member might not be allowed back.
The 1A is still in effect. You have to know what it is, and it has nothing to do with NASCAR controlling who they allow as members and who they do not.
This is a very interesting 🤨 line from Pete, “I’m not saying what he did was wrong or right.”
Why won’t you? Why won’t you say what he did was wrong or right? Well, are you a coward? I’m seeing lots of yellow. What are you afraid of? But you did. Since you like to invoke the Constitution, racism is still prohibited by the Constitution, and equality rules. The Constitution says so! It’s not poor taste, not just in the eye of the beholder. There are laws, and hate laws that deal with this sort of thing.
People put stuff out on social media for the attention. Nobody is being forced to read any of it. The simple fact that it was there (or was since it was taken down) is all that is required.
Pete wrote, “Perhaps NASCAR should not?” Hmmm, NASCAR should not read social media? That’s what they do, that’s what they are all about… MEDIA. NASCAR is finding out that social media is huge, much bigger than ever expected, and they are figuring out how to monetize it. That means they will be participating in social media, and in a very big way. Without MEDIA, NASCAR ceases to exist.
Pete wrote, “Trump should have stayed off social media.” That’s really funny. He can’t stay off social media. He has to sate his narcissism. When he was banned from Twitter and FaceBook, he started his own social media outlet just to make sure he had an outlet to bloviate. He needs an outlet to continue to reach his Deplorables. He needs his Deplorables to continue to do his dirty work, like storming the Capitol, overthrowing elections, etc.
Looks like the racing community is considering putting a muffler on the Wildamuff.
NASCAR policing hate speech is no different than Congress punishing Ilhan Omar for her anti-semitic hate speech. Omar lost her committee assignment and Wildermuth lost his NASCAR license. Case closed.
“muffy” isn’t driving the car allows his arrogance to shine as a former “official”. gee do people really believe punishing morons like “muffy” for a stupid face book post is going to make things better for African Americans? . the stands at the track built in the “hood” with local entertainment were not even half full. you cant force integration into NASCAR no matter how hard you try. “muffy” and his stupid meme aren`t the problem. its cultural. By the way Hirshman will tell you ” muffy” never won him a race .
I wouldn’t agree that NASCAR’s action regarding Wildermuth is a punishment per se. More of a time out to reflect and give an ignorant, small minded grown ass man a chance to reflect and perhaps learn a thing or to about what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes. Forget silly expressions like “woke”, forget Wallace’s race, the noose incident, his status as a CUP driver and all the rest. Just don’t be a jerk. Maybe take a minute to think it through. If you’re not capable of that at the very least wait until your target has done something first worth leveling superficial mockery toward instead of blind siding them for simply existing.
Of course you can’t make people committed to being jerks act like decent human beings but you can’t blame NASCAR for having standards either.
Yeah, policing civility is important. Yeah, Rep. Gosar was removed for threatening behavior, such as depicting himself assassinating AOC and attacking Biden. Then Marjorie Taylor Green was removed for her anti-semitic rants and anti-islamic rants, and embracing Q and other pure crazy conspiracies. But then, the GOP has put Gosar and Green back on Committees. Go figure. What does that tell you about the GOP?
That NASCAR has been pruning the membership is impressive. There are plenty more that need to go, but they are prominent team/organization owners. When folks like Wildamuff do what they do, they make it easy for NASCAR and other sanctioning bodies to cleave them off. NASCAR would look really bad if they did not act on these blatant acts.
People are free to be as big an anal sphincter as they so choose, and they are the consequence of themselves. They are their own victims.
GREAT point dareal, GOP should be ashamed of themselves, as should all the Democrats who protested Omar’s punishment. What do those protesting Omar’s punishment say about the Democrat party?
OK we’ve all gotten our punches in from both sides of the issue. Since politics has reared it’s ugly head how about some comic relief to lighten the mood. Provided by Nancy Mace, Republican Representative from South Carolina at the Waldorf Astoria on Wednesday at the Washington Press Club Foundation 77th Annual Congressional Dinner to honor the free press.
Some of her bits included;
Kevin McCarthy
“Did you watch McCarthy during the speaker vote? I haven’t seen someone assume that many positions to appease crazy Republicans since Stormy Daniels,”
George Santos
“If you’re going to lie make it about something big, like you actually won the 2020 presidential election.”
“C’mon, George, you give Republicans a bad name. And that’s Lauren Boebert’s job.”
“Just kidding, Lauren, don’t shoot,”
Matt Gaetz
“Well, let’s be honest. We all knew that Matt Gaetz would never let the vote get to 18,”
“I do have a message for Matt this evening. He really, really wanted to be here tonight, but he couldn’t find a babysitter — to be his date, I mean. Come on.”
Ilhan Omar
“tried looking” for Rep. Ilhan Omar in the audience “but it looks she lost her seat.”
Margorie Taylor Green
“Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about antisemitism. But since Marjorie Taylor Greene started behaving, the rate of Jewish space laser attacks is now zero.”
Mike, GOP Congressmen are always making anti-Semitic comments, except when they are appealing to the Judeo-Christian voting bloc and for their $$$$$ donations. Apparently, it’s okay for old white guys to do that. But if a black woman from Africa, and a Muslim, does it, that crosses a line. Interestingly, Jewish members of Congress spoke out in defense of Omar, saying differences like this needs to be dealt with by discussion, not force. The GOP is making a martyr out of Omar.
Next you need to learn about the history of the Israelites, the Jewish nomads that wandered for hundreds or thousands of years, then were given the land they call Israel by decree, the decree by and from what was the 1,800 pound gorilla at the time. Mike, imagine the US Government mandating that a bunch of nomads and refugees from Central America, Africa and the Middle East are to be given 40% of your property to live on and start their own neighborhood. How would you like that? Well, that is effectively how Israel was born. But when Israel was born, the lands involved also included centuries old sacred sites belonging to other religions and cultures.
Those that had their homelands and sacred locations taken away and handed to the Israelites are rightfully still pissed. Just as Native Americans are still not over what happened to them. Can you understand that?
You need to learn history, truthful history. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Not the GOP purged and modified interpretation, or what they want to call it at the time for opportunistic reasons. And stop watching Tucker. Watch and listen to more PBS.
Below the Mason-Dixon line, what do you call the IKEA bookshelf department? A library.
Will be interesting to see how this plays out. Will NASCAR enforce their rules, will Willdamuffy play the victim card? Stayed tuned…
GREAT points dareal. this is why I respect your opinion so much. You are absolutely right about the hypocrites in the GOP and their anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim comments which go unanswered. And you not being a hypocrite like that GOP crowd I bet it enrages you when you hear religious bigots and their anti-Christian comments. Anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim and anti-Christian bigots should all be treated the same in my opinion and suffer the same consequences…….or should there be a double standard?
Its funny how people tell someone to “learn their history” when one does not agree with them. The whole truth? From the men can have babies party?…. then they throw the word hypocrite around. I’ve yet to find a perfect person in my travels…. Dem or Republican.
History is fact. You do not agree with, or disagree with, history. You do not validate history. It is what it is, it happened. A fact denied is still a fact. Hence, learn about history, lest you will make the same mistakes as those before you did.
If you are the type to deny that the moon landings, holocaust and Sandy Hook happened, go for it.
Dareal, do you have any original thoughts or are you gonna recite the DNC playbook, and plagiarize what was my original question? Interesting Shawn responded to your question, which was actually my question. Hmmmm
Knuckles Mahoney,
When you asked the question originally I had not yet been in contact with anyone regarding it. When it was asked the second time I reached out and got the information that was shared here. It was answering the question, period. I apologize that I didn’t address the response to each of you since you both asked.
I’ve avoided offering much response to the direction the comments have gone here, but I will say it’s a sad testament to the state of this country that this comment thread has turned into a political back and forth.
Sad because a demonstratively racist post shouldn’t instigate a political debate. Though it’s hardly shocking that it does when one considers the state of the political climate in this country and the sharp division it has created.
There shouldn’t be any debate about politics when it comes to something like this. This wasn’t some sort of subtle poke of comedy. It wasn’t in any sort of gray area of questionability of acceptance.
It’s not about being “woke”, it’s about simply being a decent human being.
The symbolism of the “Burned Cross” or the “Burning Cross” in this country represents the days when the Klu Klux Klan lynched innocent black citizens simply for their cause and amusement. The burned cross is considered one of the most highly recognizable symbols of racial intimidation in this country’s history.
I think we all understand that a lot of people involved in motorsports in this country, whether as participants or fans, don’t like Bubba Wallace. And if you just simply don’t like him, that’s absolutely fine. Ultimately sports and fandom is about loyalty and allegiances. If you’re a New York Giants fan you’re supposed to hate the Philadelphia Eagles. If you love the Red Sox then you hate the Yankees. And we all know that NASCAR has a history of polarizing drivers that create division among fans. Some people love Kyle Busch, some people hate Kyle Busch.
Anyone who spends anytime perusing social media regarding NASCAR these days understands well that Bubba Wallace is very much disliked among many. And again, nothing wrong with that. If you want to say you don’t think he’s talented that’s fine. Want to say you don’t like his attitude, that’s fine too. Want to say you don’t think he paid his dues to get to where he is, go right ahead. Anyone is welcome to making those arguments.
But to use symbolism of the history of murdering people in this country simply because of the color of their skin as a punchline to a joke is simply being racist. There’s no wiggle room for trying to infer that only a certain segment of the population finds it racist based on their political ideology or leanings. It’s racist, period, end of story. It’s not a Democrat issue. It’s not a Republican issue. It’s not about being liberal or conservative, right or left, it’s racist.