The knot that was tied in the rope is a VERY common fisherman's knot. I have tied that knot a thousand times. I just tied one exactly like this to hang a bird feeder in a tree. Yes it looks like a noose, but a real noose has several more wrappings around it. Just go to your local WalMart, go to the fishing section and look at the pre-tied hooks.
My storage unit rope pull has a knot in it, very similar to the one in the garage. It was like that, when I rented it.
Another thing to consider is how hard it is to pull on a straight rope, without your hands slipping.
Finally, since it has been proven that the knot has been there for some time, it was not meant for Wallace, or anyone else. In hind site, it was a huge over-reaction.
The interesting thing is, that it is obvious that Wallace seems to have selective outrage. The man who is paying him, Richard Petty, is in pictures, all over the internet holding a Confederate flag. Doesn't that make him a racist by today's standards?
I am not implying Petty is a racist, I don't think he is by any stretch. I do not place blame on Wallace exclusively for the over-reaction either. He had LOTS of help. I just believe one has to be consistent in their reaction to things. My .02.