The father of Bubba Wallace, the only black driver in NASCAR's top racing series, is worried about his son's safety after the sport recently banned the confederate flag on its cars and at its events.
Wallace said his father, who is white, is proud of his activism with trying to bring more diversity to the sport. Wallace has decided to drive a car with Black Lives Matter painted on it during races.
"Just crazy you have to think about that side of things," Wallace told Fox News.
Wallace said he's enjoyed hanging with fans in the infield, and said getting rid of the Confederate flag at races will make fans feel more comfortable.
He also acknowledged he hasn't had many bad experiences with police, but the ones he's had were pronounced.
"The negative encounters I've had with law enforcement were very few, but they stood out," Wallace said, referencing the time he was pulled over by the police and asked if his could afford the car he was in.
"What year are we in?"
Aside from banning the Confederate flag, NASCAR is also easing its rules on silent protests during the national anthem. Wallace has been wearing "I Can't Breathe/Black Lives Matter" t-shirts, but he wouldn't say whether he would kneel during The Star-Spangled Banner.
Wallace suggested his fame has gotten him out of situations with police the average person would not have been able to escape.
"No matter who you are, what profession you have. Joe Shmoe from down the street. You know, we should all get treated equally, but that's just not how the system works," Wallace said.
He added: "I think the messages I've been putting out there on the racetrack during the anthem is speaking for itself."
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