NASCAR has released a picture of the noose found in the garage of driver Bubba Wallace on Sunday.
The incident led to an FBI investigation.
Wallace himself never came into contact with the noose as NASCAR drivers aren't allowed in garages.
He was informed of the incident by NASCAR president Steve Phelps.
The Justice Department found that the noose had been present in the garage "as early as October 2019".
Appearing on CNN's Don Lemon show on Tuesday, Wallace said, "From the evidence that we have — that I have, it’s a straight-up noose."
NASCAR releases photo to the media of the garage pull rope formed as a noose from the Bubba Wallace garage Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.
This image was provide by NASCAR. pic.twitter.com/Z4ZyBzpREF— Marty Smith (@MartySmithESPN) June 25, 2020
NASCAR say that officials asked each of their tracks to walk their respective garages following Sunday’s discovery.
"Across the 1,684 garage stalls at 29 tracks," a statement said, "NASCAR found only 11 total that had a pull-down rope tied in a knot and only one noose — the one discovered Sunday in the No. 43 garage stall."
Despite the fact that Wallace did not himself discover the noose, and had to be told about it Phelps, right-wing trolls have questioned the 26-year old's character.
"I’m pissed,” he told Lemon. “I’m mad because people are trying to steal my character.
"It doesn’t matter if we provide evidence, photos, it will always be photoshopped. I will always have haters."
— Bubba Wallace (@BubbaWallace) June 24, 2020
Following release of the noose photo, Phelps said, "Upon learning of and seeing the noose, our initial reaction was to protect our driver.
"We’re living in a highly charged and emotional time. What we saw was a symbol of hate and was only present in one area of the garage and that was of the 43 car of Bubba Wallace.
"In hindsight, I should have used the word ‘alleged’ in our statement.
"As you can see from the photo, the noose was real, as was our concern for Bubba.
"With similar emotion, others across our industry and our media stood up to defend the NASCAR family. Our NASCAR family. Because they are part of the NASCAR family, too.
"We are proud to see so many stand up for what’s right."
Phelps also defended Wallace from right-wing trolls, reiterating, "Bubba Wallace and the 43 team had nothing to do with this.
"Bubba Wallace has done nothing but represent this sport with courage, class and dignity."
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