It was a quiet Sunday evening when the clocks were moved forward, marking the ritual of Daylight Saving Time. For many, it was just a minor inconvenience, just losing an hour, no big deal. But in NASCAR, where even a tenth of a second is a big deal, this extra hour of evening sunlight is like a lifetime. 

For 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace, this shift to Daylight Saving Time wasn’t just about logistics—it was about finding some light in an otherwise dark season, so far.

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing’s face and one of NASCAR’s most outspoken personalities, recently took to X (former Twitter) to share how Daylight Saving Time helped him combat a mild case of depression.

“Daylight savings cures the mild cases of depression 😅 hard to beat the timing/weather right now!!,” Wallace wrote on X, reflecting how some extra hours bring a sense of renewal. For Wallace, who has always been candid and vocal about mental health struggles in the past, this small change in time offers a well-deserved emotional boost.

The race at Phoenix was the latest in a line of disappointments for the 23XI driver. Just 46 laps left in the race and Wallace was running within the top 10 when tragedy struck. A brake rotor failed and into the Wallace went, doing a poor impression of Ross Chastain’s Hail Melon move. He scraped along the wall and limped back to the pits, eventually finishing in 29th place at the Shriners Children’s 500. For Wallace, it wasn’t just a lost position, it was lost momentum. After finishing 9th at the Ambetter Health 400, and a 20th place in COTA, it was the right time for Wallace to show he was on the right path in terms of his performance.

“It’s a pressure-cooker being at the Cup level, right? And the last four years, I’ve been miserable just trying to walk around like everything’s OK…I wasn’t the best husband…I made her [Amanda] feel like she had to walk on eggshells after bad races. That’s not what it’s about. It’s about going home and getting a fresh reset and being close to the people that are around you. That’s what I’m looking forward to.” Bubba Wallace’s candid openness about his mental health issues shows another layer in his already complex career. 

And he’s already making changes. After losing out in Phoenix, he immediately looked to his family to lift his spirits. “And even Amanda, we were texting after the race and she was like ‘I’m surprised you’re not upset’ or something along those lines. But she’s used to the bad days and I’m a pain in the ass, so she was quite surprised. If it all ended today, it’s ok because I have a good family, and we’ll be fine. It just wasn’t meant to be, and I was trying to understand that pretty quick.”

But Daylight Saving Time isn’t just a personal matter that affects only Wallace, its effects are felt throughout the entirety of NASCAR paddock as well. This transition affects race schedules, fan attendance, and the performance of the drivers. Later race start times due to the change means better TV viewership. These long winter months can sometimes be tough for athletes, who flourish on adrenaline and routine. Daylight Saving Time may seem inconsequential to some, but for Wallace, it’s a reminder that brighter days, both literally and figuratively, are not far.

As Wallace navigates the challenges thrown at him, both on and off the track, fans are left wondering: what does the future hold for him?

Team owner at 23XI Denny Hamlin has full confidence in his driver, especially with the arrival of Charles Denike as the crew chief for the #23 team. “I think that those two can really do something special this year. We’ve crossed paths but that’s it. He’s [Denike] coming in fresh. He was with a Chevy Truck team now going to a Toyota Cup team, so literally it couldn’t be a bigger transition for him. From what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard, he’s doing a fantastic job.” 

Yet, there are questions raised on Wallace.

Can Wallace Hold His Ground?

But here’s the kicker: while Wallace finds solace in the little bit of extra sunshine due to Daylight Saving Time, this season, his performance on track has been under the microscope for all the wrong reasons. With 2 DNFs in 4 races so far, his performance on the track is under scrutiny, and with Corey Heim ready to take over, questions are even being raised about his future in the 23XI Racing team.

“You look at a guy like Corey Heim. There’s just constantly pressure from somebody new coming in. If you don’t elevate your game and you don’t pay attention to the ovals and the road courses and you better block your whole life out for it, because if you don’t, somebody else is going to because that’s what it takes at this level,” said NASCAR legend, Kevin Harvick recently in his podcast.

Bubba Wallace, now a veteran of the sport, knows what’s at stake. He has seen it all. After nearly making the playoffs last year but falling short, he enters this season with renewed determination—and pressure. “Excited for this season to get underway. Took it upon myself to be better and do better. Got my a** kicked the last 2 seasons, plain and simple…No shame in saying that. Using it as motivation. I’ve been rocking the ‘just get by’ mentality for too long. Focused on my well being most importantly. Eating right, drinking right. Working out.”

As Wallace finds small victories in Daylight Saving Time, fans are eager to see if he can rise above the noise and seize the opportunity to perform and silence the haters.