When Bubba Wallace snapped his grueling 100-race winless streak by conquering the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, it marked not just a victory but a historic milestone. He became the first Black driver ever to win a major race on Indy’s 2.5-mile oval. Battling through rain delays, two overtime restarts, and fierce late-race restarts against defending champion Kyle Larson, Wallace held his nerve and clinched the win by just 0.222 seconds to electrify the moment. That triumph also locked in his spot in NASACR’s playoffs and boosted 23XI Racing’s momentum during legal struggles with NASCAR. But his victory runs deeper, as it connected Wallace’s journey back to the team where it all began.

Wallace got his Cup start with Richard Petty Motorsports in 2017, stepping into the iconic #43 car. Though the ride ended in 2020, RPM and its legacy shaped Wallace’s early career and defined a formative chapter in his rise. “I believe this team, its partners and fans are ready to see some great things again,” said Wallace, after acquiring his full-time ride with the team. “I’m humbled that they have chosen me to take that next step with them. I’m ready for next season to begin and to prove to people that we can compete at the level we all expect to be at.” Today, his Brickyard win echoed back to those days when Petty let Wallace fight his way onto NASCAR’s biggest stage. And just when the celebrations hit their peak, the King himself, Richard Petty, cut through the noise with a blunt truth bomb, leaving the NASCAR garage thinking twice.

Inside the mindset of racing’s most demanding legend

When asked by a fan on Instagram, “Do you still stay in touch with Bubba even after he left RPM? And will you be getting in touch with him to congratulate him for the 400 win?” Petty shared a snippet from his latest Full Race Recap podcast on the Petty Family Racing YouTube channel, replying bluntly. “No, I never congratulate anybody, okay?” said Petty. “You know, even my drivers and stuff. You put them out there, you expect them to win the race. That’s what you put them out there for.” That frank admission underscored the high-expectation culture Petty instilled and highlighted how Wallace’s breakthrough stands on its own merit, beyond traditional praise or sentiment. But reflecting on Wallace’s tenure with RPM, several noteworthy insights and stories come to light.

In late 2017, Wallace earned his shot with RPM after stepping in as an injury replacement, making four Cup Series starts. Within those starts, he showed rapid progression, moving from a 26th-place finish at Pocono to a career-best 11th at Kentucky, averaging 17.8 across the events. Richard Petty and team leadership took notice. “We have hired a lot of different drivers in the past, but Wallace brings a lot of youth and talent to our team,” said Richard Petty in 2018. “He’s proven at a young age to be able to be consistent on a weekly basis, give feedback to the team to help improve the car and race hard to get the best finish possible.” That performance paved the way for Wallace to be named full-time driver of the #43 for the 2018 season, replacing Aric Almirola.

Taking over a legend-carrier, Wallace brought renewed energy to RPM. In 2018, he delivered a stunning runner-up finish at the Daytona 500, edging Denny Hamlin to the line by just .002 seconds. It was the best ever result for a rookie in the event. The performance galvanized the team, with owner Andrew Murstein declaring, “Bubba is a rising star in the sport of NASCAR, and we are honored to hand him ‘the keys’ to the No. 43 car. Our team believes Bubba has the potential and personality to be one of the next superstars in the sport, and we’re ready to pave his road to success. He will surprise a lot of people next year, I can promise you that.”

But the following years tested both driver and team resilience. In 2019, Wallace and RPM struggled with underfunding after losing sponsors like Click ‘N Close and STP. Despite the constraints, he managed a strong third-place finish at the Brickyard 400, showcasing his skill on high-stakes tracks and reminding fans why his early promise mattered. Ultimately, after three seasons with the team, Wallace chose to leave following the 2020 season, his best statistically yet. He earned a career-high five Top-10 finishes and improved averages, culminating a journey that began with hope and reaffirmed his talent. That exit marked the end of an era and set the stage for his next chapter with 23XI. But his playful side remains intact with his former team.

Dale Inman, former crew chief and current co-host of Richard Petty‘s podcast, shared a hilarious story following Petty’s remarks. “Talking about Bubba. I hadn’t been to a race in a while, but I always went by and kind of spoke to him when I was there,” he said. “And he’d look at me and say, ‘you’re still living?’ And so that’s kind of a joke with us.” The lighthearted change perfectly captured the camaraderie and humor that still flows between Wallace and the Petty camp. It was a reminder that behind the blunt truths and fierce competition, NASCAR’s legends still value shared laughs and personal connections.

Fatherhood and a legend’s wisdom spark Wallace’s win

Coming into the Brickyard 400 with 23XI Racing entangled in a charter lawsuit, Wallace had every reason to feel the weight of the moment. Yet, with Michael Jordan‘s presence looming large and fresh motivation from becoming a father, Wallace fought his way past adversity and into a position to challenge one of NASCAR’s best. “Things you want more cost more,” Jordan had told him, words that would echo in the race’s most critical moments.

With four laps to go, Wallace led Larson until a rain caution and a multi-car wreck forced two tense overtime restarts. “To be the best, you have to beat the best. We can all say Kyle Larson is the best right now,” Wallace said after crossing the finish line. But during those final laps, doubt crept in. “I hate that I started counting the eggs before they hatched… My car was going extremely loose, and I can not drive these things loose at all.” Staring in his mirror at the #5, he admitted, “This s— is so hard. I look in the mirror, and I’m like, ‘here we go with the 5 [Kyle Larson], what’s going to happen?'”

It was then that Wallace turned his mind to the two sources of inspiration that kept him grounded: his infant son and Michael Jordan. “Then I started thinking about my son, I started thinking about what MJ would say, and all of a sudden, the car got better. It was like, ‘okay, this is our race still,'” he recalled. That mindset shift carried him through the final 20 laps. The draining fight ended with his first win since 2022 and the loudest statement yet that Bubba Wallace isn’t done proving himself.