Through 22 races in 2025, the 23XI Racing star, Bubba Wallace, elevated his performance beyond what he delivered in 2023 or 2024. Wallace tallied one win, four Top-5 finishes, and eight Top-10s, placing him 11th in the standings with 550 points as of late July, far stronger than last year’s 37 starts, yielding only six Top-10s and an 18-point finish in the standings. His Daytona Duel 1 victory showed early promise, even though a DNF in the actual Daytona 500 set him back. Wallace’s average finish near 18 and laps led totaling over 130 indicate competitiveness and growing rental power under the 23XI banner. And it was at Indianapolis that everything changed!

Wallace’s emotional Brickyard win was no ordinary victory. At the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, he endured an 18-minute rain delay, two dramatic overtime restarts, and the creeping dread of running out of fuel late in the race before ultimately holding off defending champion Kyle Larson to win by just 0.222 seconds. It was his third career Cup victory, and his first win in a Crown Jewel event. And this win couldn’t have arrived at a more crucial time for 23XI Racing’s identity and future. Indianapolis had eluded him up until now, and it snapped a 100-race winless stretch dating to September 2022 at Kansas. Wallace led 30 laps in total, including the final 26, and expertly managed both strategy and nerves during NASCAR’s first true double-overtime finish at Indianapolis. But once he had the win, his celebration said everything about what it meant.

Upon crossing the finish line, Wallace emerged from the cockpit visibly spent. “That adrenaline rush is crazy,” he said. “I’m worn out. Unbelievable.” TV footage and post-race coverage showed Wallace hugging his wife, Amanda, and lifting his ten-month-old son, Becks, before waving to the crowd. He later recounted NBA star Michael Jordan’s congratulations over the phone, “He was just so proud. I said I wish you were here for it, and he said he’s going to have a drink or two for me tonight. So we’ll be celebrating together in spirit.” But the real celebration unfolded after the race, back at home. In an Instagram post, Wallace shared a thread of pictures enjoying the night with family and fellow mentor and Hall of Famer Kurt Busch. But the pictures, posted without a caption, spoke a thousand words.

As co-owners, Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan continue to face legal scrutiny over their charter status; this victory secured playoff positions for both Wallace and Hamlin under their owners’ championship bracket. Hamlin himself noted post-race, “They deserve to win the race. They were faster; they pulled way from the pack there… Just a great, flawless execution day for Bubba, Charles [Denike], that whole team. Just so happy for them. They deserve it.” The timing couldn’t be better: Hamlin, finishing third himself, praised Wallace and the crew for delivering exactly when they needed it most. For fans and the future of the team, the moment sparked hope and shared emotion.

Fans watching the celebration tumbled into euphoria across social media and response boards. They were already thrilled when Wallace captured the Crown Jewel, celebrating the redemption of a talented driver who had fought through years of near misses. After snapping the winless streak drought, in the sport’s most historic oval, he declared, “How many days since my last win? Zero,” turning frustration into vindication and rallying for fans every race yet to come. And the celebration was just the cherry on top.

Bubba Wallace’s Brickyard heroics set NASCAR socials on fire

One fan praised Wallace’s deserved win, writing, “I’m so happy for him and the family. While Kasey had an emotional final win there, not even his recent mentor and HOFer Kurt got a win there AFAIR. I hope this shuts certain people up.” The comparison draws on Kasey Kahne’s emotional triumph at the Brickyard 400 in 2017, his final Cup Series victory. It remains one of the most dramatic wins in Indianapolis history, which he earned after enduring three red-flag stoppages and suffocating heat. Meanwhile, Hall of Famer Kurt Busch, who competed in Indianapolis 20 times, without winning the Cup race there, stands out, despite having 34 career Cup victories; he never cracked the Victory Lane at the oval. Therefore, this celebration turned out to be a collective one for all.

But what stood out to fans was Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s post-race advice to Wallace. One fan noted, “He really took Jr’s advice to heart. …hell yeah.” On TNT’s post-race show, Earnhardt Jr. had said, “I want to give you a piece of advice… Enjoy every second of this. The rest of this, all the media you’re going to do after this moment… Whatever party you may have tonight. Enjoy it. Soak it all in. You never do this again for the first time. And you also have, you’re locked into the playoffs and you can let all of that pressure roll off your back.” The heartfelt moment showcased how seriously Wallace valued not just the win itself, but also the experience of racing and winning one of the most important Crown Jewels of NASCAR.

In the aftermath of Wallace‘s celebration, one fan’s snarky quip captured the mood, sarcastically quoting, “”I’m buying all this champaign with all the money I save living rent-free in certain people’s heads.” Wish he’d invited Cookie Monster.” This comment epitomized the moment with Wallace’s critics silenced, as he cashed in on his critics’ doubts with a monumental victory. Ironically, some fans were disappointed that they didn’t get to hear the Cookie Monster’s “drivers, start your engines” command, due to a broadcasting mishap by TNT before the race began. But they jokingly hoped that they would get a glimpse of the blue character at Wallace’s post-race party.

Some were also worried about Wallace’s spotter, Freddie Kraft’s condition after the late-night party, as one quipped, “Freddie gonna be hungover as hell for DBC tomorrow.” If Kraft’s reporter-induced adrenaline from Dover is any clue, he is going to be hungover for any media appearances after Wallace’s Brickyard 400 victory celebration. With Wallace leading and then steering through double-overtime chaos to clinch the win, it is safe to say Freddie might need a day off, but no rest with the DBC schedule rolling around.

On the other hand, Tyler Reddick continues his aggressive 2025 campaign but will be equally relieved after Wallace’s win, as one fan commented, “Reddick is going all out tonight too.” Although a misfortune during the first overtime attempt left Reddick’s car with terminal damage, forcing him to retire after completing 163 laps and finishing 29th, the win for 23XI brought the lawsuit tension under control to some extent. All team owners and drivers likely breathed a sigh of relief following the challenging stretch over the past few months.

As the playoff battle intensifies, the Brickyard shake-up serves as a timely reminder that no contender can afford missteps. With momentum shifting across the garage, the road to Phoenix promises drama at every turn.