---
title: "NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson, Wallace Drop Helmet Designer Over Confederate Flag Tweets"
description: "Social media tirades aren't always good for business."
date: "2020-06-12"
modified: "2020-06-12"
authors:
  - name: "Caleb Jacobs"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/caleb-jacobs"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/34066/nascars-johnson-and-wallace-drop-helmet-designer-over-confederate-flag-tweets"
categories:
  - "NASCAR"
  - "News"
  - "Racing"
---

# NASCAR’s Jimmie Johnson, Wallace Drop Helmet Designer Over Confederate Flag Tweets

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2020/06/Beam-Hero.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

NASCAR's [ban of the Confederate flag](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/34010/nascar-bans-the-confederate-flag>) hasn't sat well with everyone—shocker, I know. Whether the argument is about questionable history or the separation of sports and politics, droves of used-to-be fans have expressed their frustration over the inclusion-based ruling. This also seemed to be the case with Beam Designs, who penned helmet themes for drivers like Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, and—oh yeah—Bubba Wallace, before they all dropped the company for a series of "inappropriate" tweets regarding the flag.

Beam Designs started by calling [Wallace's Black Lives Matter livery from Martinsville](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/33979/bubba-wallace-to-run-black-lives-matter-livery-in-nascars-martinsville-race>) "garbage" with three thumbs down. Y'know, for emphasis.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1271150780385558531

Then, in a series of since-deleted social media posts, the company hit out against NASCAR's decision to remove the flag from all events and properties.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1270950849506754560

Beam claimed the Civil War was fought "over separation of the Union, not slavery." Someone must have forgotten to tell Alexander H. Stephens—Vice President of the Confederate States—exactly what he was fighting for when delivering [his Cornerstone Speech in Savannah](<https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/cornerstone-speech>) some 159 years ago.

Negative attention stemming from these tweets drew the ire of Blaney, Busch, Johnson, and Wallace. They all severed ties with Beam, despite him pre-emptively bragging about collaborating with Blaney and Johnson in the coming weeks.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1271158768860950529

In the time since, Beam has taken a lighter approach to social media, retweeting the drivers with comments congratulating them on their careers.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1271163588426690560

https://twitter.com/_/status/1271180441995730946

That was only after he bragged about his views bringing in more followers, though.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1270987910863437825

Regardless, [NASCAR's Cup Series](<https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/33851/nascars-incredibly-named-hand-sanitizer-400-will-be-closed-to-the-public-because-covid-19>) will continue this Sunday, June 14, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Exactly how the sanctioning body plans to keep Confederate flags out of the track is yet to be seen, so we'll be here to keep an eye on that as it develops.

*Got a tip? Send us a note: tips@thedrive.com*

h/t: [*CBS Sports*](<https://www.cbssports.com/nascar/news/jimmie-johnson-bubba-wallace-end-relationship-with-nascar-helmet-designer-following-confederate-flag/>)

## Author
Caleb Jacobs is The Drive’s senior editor. When he’s not searching for stories or poring over copy, he’s usually driving his dump truck or wishing it was running so he could drive it. He was born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks, and he lives there today with his family.

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/caleb-jacobs-319323119>)  
[Instagram](<https://instagram.com/calebjwords>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/calebjacobs0611>)