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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 09: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 World Wide Technology Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 09: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #43 World Wide Technology Chevrolet, during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
Bubba Wallace is currently gearing up for his second season with 23XI Racing. However, it is interesting to note that in his early racing days, his heart was not always set on NASCAR. The driver practically grew up in the backyard of NASCAR racing, as he lived in Alabama and North Carolina.
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However, he was not overly into the sport and the bug did not bite him until much later. Wallace confessed, “I grew up 15 minutes from the racetrack and didn’t even care for it until I was at the truck level really. [All of the sudden] it was like, ‘holy cow, I’m doing this.’ Yeah, we’re doing it.”
Once he was hooked he knew that he had to use every opportunity to elevate himself. According to him, he thrived in trying to figure out how to improve himself as a racer. Before he even knew it, the African-American driver found himself racing in the Cup Series. Admittedly, it was not quite what he had in mind, but he was glad that everything worked out the way it did. Admittedly he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Bubba Wallace was inspired by Wendell Scott
As an up-and-coming driver, many in the paddock took notice of him. Of course, in his debut Cup race, he couldn’t help feeling starstruck as it finally dawned on him that he was at the top.
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Apr 25, 2021; Talladega, Alabama, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) leads during the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
He was pretty much following in the footsteps of the late Wendell Scott, and as an African-American, it was never going to be easy for Wallace. Needless to say, he must have made Scott proud when he won the Cup Series race at the Talladega Superspeedway. This was much after NBA legend Michael Jordan threw his hat in the NASCAR ring and established the 23XI Racing team.
Bubba Wallace was truly grateful for Jordan’s influence and appreciated him. Apart from the NBA legend, Wallace also has loyal sponsors backing him, like McDonald’s. In addition to that, he has Door Dash, Dr. Pepper, Root Insurance, Columbia, Leidos, Toyota, and DraftKings sponsoring him. Now, he will be looking forward to the 2022 season and a new campaign.
