NASCAR vows to do better job addressing racial injustice

Bubba Wallace donned a black T-shirt with words “I Can't Brea” and NASCAR paused before Sunday's Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway to ackwledge country's social unrest. governing body vowed to to do a better job of dressing racial injustice in wake of George Floyd's death.

During ir warm-up laps, 40 cars pulled to a stop in front of empty grandstands and shut off ir engines so NASCAR President Steve Phelps could deliver a mess over ir rio sets.

“Thank you for your time,” Phelps said. “Our country is in pain and people are justifiably angry, demanding to be heard. black community and all people of colour have suffered in our country, and it has taken far too long for us to hear ir demands for change. Our sport must do better. Our country must do better.”

A black NASCAR official took a knee along pit ro, mimicking a gesture used by protesters in tribute to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

All 40 crews stood on wall in front of ir pit boxes.

“ time is w to listen, to understand and to stand against racism and racial injustice,” Phelps said. "We ask our drivers ... and all our fans to join us in this mission, to take a moment of reflection, to ackwledge that we must do better as a sport, and join us as we w pause and take a moment to listen.”

Wallace, only African American driver in NASCAR's top series, has been sport's most outspoken voice since Floyd died while in custody of Minneapolis police,

Wallace's T-shirt carried Floyd's pleing words when an officer, identified as Derek Chauvin, pinned a knee on his neck for more than eight minutes while he was handcuffed. Chauvin and three or officers have been fired and charged in incident, which followed deaths of Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery.

Protesters have cited all three African American victims in ir demands for social justice.

After Phelps spoke to NASCAR drivers, y observed a 30-second moment of silence. n, as cars refired ir engines and slowly pulled away for green flag,

Several drivers also posted video on ir Twitter accounts, vowing to “listen and learn" from protests that have rocked nation. vowed to “ longer be silent” and pledged to “work toger to make real change.”

With its roots in South and one-time embrace of Confederate symbols, NASCAR has a checkered racial history. organization has launched diversity programs but still struggles to shake its reputation as a largely white sport.

During a shutdown caused by coronavirus pandemic,

“We need step up more than we ever have before,” said former Cup star Jeff Gordon, w a Fox brocaster. "We are listening, we are learning and we are rey to change."