“We f—— earned that one. What are they going to say now, baby? Let’s goooo,” Bubba Wallace roared, tears streaming down his face as he climbed out of his No. 23 Toyota at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

After 100 races without a win, Wallace silenced his doubters with a gutsy victory in the 2025 Brickyard 400, holding off Kyle Larson in a nail-biting finish. It is his third career Cup Series win, and the emotion was raw as he celebrated on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s hallowed bricks.

“To win here at the Brickyard, knowing how big this race is, knowing all the noise that’s going on in the background, to set that to the side is a testament to these people here on this No. 23 team,” Wallace told NASCAR on TNT, post-race.

Wallace’s triumph came down to a brilliant fuel strategy call that put him out front in the closing laps. He survived two overtime restarts after a red flag for rain paused the race. On the first restart, Wallace pulled away from Larson, but a wreck involving Christopher Bell, Zane Smith, and Tyler Reddick forced another go.

With fuel running dangerously low, Wallace held his nerve on the second restart and fended off Larson to secure the win. The Brickyard, one of NASCAR’s crown jewels, has not seen a moment this electric in years.

“I’m just so proud of this team. That adrenaline rush is crazy because I’m coming off that right now, and I’m worn out,” he said, thanking his Airspeed crew.

The race saw plenty of chaos. Chase Briscoe started on pole, his fifth of 2025, but pit strategy shuffled him back. Ross Chastain’s crash after contact with Michael McDowell on lap 17 brought an early caution. Austin Cindric led by skipping the pits but later lost the lead. Ryan Blaney nabbed the Stage 2 win but ran dry under caution, dropping back.

Larson led much of the final stage. However, Wallace, Joey Logano, and Josh Berry stretched their fuel. Logano’s tire blowout on lap 135 handed Wallace a big lead until rain forced the dramatic overtime finish. Larson took second, Denny Hamlin third, Ryan Preece fourth, and Brad Keselowski fifth.

This victory is more than a checkered flag. It is a statement. Wallace has faced relentless criticism, but his fuel-saving masterclass and clutch moves under pressure proved his mettle. The win at Brickyard, on a track steeped in history, shuts down the naysayers as he marches his way into the playoffs.

Wallace wins amid charter uncertainty

Bubba Wallace’s Brickyard breakthrough couldn’t have come at a better time for 23XI Racing, co-owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. The team is locked in a tense legal battle with NASCAR over charter disagreements. Technically, this was 23XI Racing’s win as an open team, the first after SVG’s win at Chicago in the Project 91 car.

Wallace’s win at Indianapolis Speedway, a crown jewel, is a loud reminder of 23XI’s value to the sport. It strengthens their leverage as they push for a fair deal to secure long-term stability and profitability. Hamlin has been vocal about the stakes, saying, “We’re not afraid to walk if this isn’t handled fairly.” The uncertainty is real. NASCAR has dragged its feet on finalizing the next charter plan despite repeated promises.

Wallace’s victory is not just personal redemption. It is a bold statement for 23XI, showing they can win big, draw new fans, and compete with the best. Although things have been tough on the entire organization, they could be heading into the playoffs with both their cars, which, for the time being, are open entries.