Career Timeline of Bubba Wallace: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Bubba Wallace built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Bubba Wallace Jr. is a prominent American professional stock car racing driver. He currently races full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, piloting the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing. Wallace is notable as one of the few African-American drivers in NASCAR's top series, and he has used his platform to advocate for social justice issues. His career has included wins and strong performances, contributing to his growing recognition within the sport.
2005: Won 35 Bandolero races
In 2005, Wallace won 35 of the 48 Bandolero Series races held that year, marking a significant achievement in his early racing career.
2008: Youngest Driver to Win at Franklin County Speedway
In 2008, Bubba Wallace became the youngest driver to win at Franklin County Speedway in Virginia, showcasing his talent at a young age.
2010: Competed in NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
In 2010, Wallace began competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, driving for Rev Racing as part of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program and was signed as a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. He also won his first race in the series, at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, becoming the youngest driver ever to win at the track.
2011: Won Three K&N Pro Series East Races
In 2011, Wallace won three K&N Pro Series East races at Richmond International Raceway, Columbus Motor Speedway, and Dover International Speedway, finishing second in points.
2012: Won K&N East Race with Joe Gibbs Racing
In 2012, racing directly for Joe Gibbs Racing, Wallace won the second K&N East Series event of the year at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.
February 2013: Announced Full Season in Camping World Truck Series
In February 2013, it was announced that Wallace would run a full season in the Camping World Truck Series in the No. 54 Toyota owned by Kyle Busch Motorsports.
December 8, 2014: Left Joe Gibbs Racing
On December 8, 2014, Wallace announced his departure from Joe Gibbs Racing after struggling to find sponsorship, seeking other opportunities in his career.
December 18, 2014: Signed with Roush Fenway Racing
On December 18, 2014, RFR officially announced that they had signed Wallace to compete full-time in the No. 6 Ford Mustang in 2015.
2014: Full-Time Return to Camping World Truck Series
In 2014, Wallace returned to the Camping World Truck Series full-time in the No. 54. He won the Drivin' for Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park and the Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway, plus the Kroger 200 and the season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway.
2014: Returned to Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing
In 2014, Wallace returned to the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing, starting at Talladega Superspeedway in May and finishing 34th. He ran one more race at Daytona in July, finishing 7th.
January 28, 2015: Announced to Drive No. 6 Ford EcoBoost Mustang
On January 28, 2015, it was announced that Wallace would drive the No. 6 Ford EcoBoost Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing.
2015: NASCAR Asks Fans to Not Display Flag
In 2015, NASCAR began asking fans to not display the Confederate flag after the Charleston church shooting.
June 5, 2017: Debut in Cup Series
On June 5, 2017, Richard Petty Motorsports announced plans to have Wallace drive the team's No. 43 Ford in place of injured Aric Almirola, making Wallace the first African-American to race in the Cup Series since Bill Lester in 2006.
October 25, 2017: Named New Driver of the No. 43
On October 25, 2017, Wallace was officially introduced as the new driver of the No. 43 for Richard Petty Motorsports in 2018, becoming the first African-American driver with a full-time Cup ride since Wendell Scott in 1971.
2017: Voice Acting in Cars 3
In 2017, Bubba Wallace voiced the character Bubba Wheelhouse in the Pixar film Cars 3.
2018: Behind the Wall: Bubba Wallace
In 2018, Bubba Wallace starred in the Facebook Watch series Behind the Wall: Bubba Wallace.
2018: Returned to K&N East at Watkins Glen
In 2018, Wallace returned to K&N East at Watkins Glen, driving the No. 27 Chevrolet for Jefferson Pitts Racing to gain extra road course experience before a Cup Series race.
May 2020: Speaks Out on Abuse
In May 2020, Bubba Wallace spoke out against the abuse of African Americans, becoming the face of stock car racing's involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement.
June 8, 2020: Calls for Confederate Flag Ban
On June 8, 2020, Bubba Wallace called on NASCAR to prohibit displays of the Confederate flag at races.
June 10, 2020: NASCAR Bans Confederate Flag
On June 10, 2020, NASCAR officially banned the display of the Confederate flag at its events.
September 10, 2020: Announced Departure from RPM
On September 10, 2020, Wallace announced he would leave Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) at the end of the 2020 season.
September 21, 2020: Joined 23XI Racing
On September 21, 2020, Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin announced the creation of 23XI Racing with Wallace as the first driver.
2020: Christian Faith and Charity
In 2020, Bubba Wallace clarified his faith and criticism of Michael McDowell, raising $20,034 for the Christian non-profit organization Motor Racing Outreach.
2020: Awards and Foundations
In 2020, Bubba Wallace ran the Live to be Different Foundation and won the National Motorsports Press Association's Pocono Spirit Award and the Comcast Community Champion of the Year award.
2020: Black Lives Matter Paint Scheme
In 2020, Bubba Wallace's car had a special Black Lives Matter paint scheme at the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500, featuring an illustration of black and white hands interlocking.
2020: Race: Bubba Wallace Docuseries
In 2022, Bubba Wallace was the subject of the Netflix docu-series Race: Bubba Wallace, which followed his career and life during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
March 2021: Joined Spencer Davis Motorsports for Pinty's Dirt Truck Race
In March 2021, Wallace joined Spencer Davis Motorsports to drive their No. 11 in the Pinty's Dirt Truck Race on Bristol Motor Speedway's dirt layout, finishing 11th.
October 4, 2021: First Cup Win at Talladega
On October 4, 2021, Wallace earned his first career Cup win at Talladega after the race was shortened due to rain, becoming the first African-American driver to win a Cup Series race since 1963.
2021: Bootie Barker Named Crew Chief
In 2021, Bootie Barker became Bubba Wallace's crew chief. They worked together until 2024, when Barker moved to another position within the organization.
2021: Race: Bubba Wallace Docuseries
In 2022, Bubba Wallace was the subject of the Netflix docu-series Race: Bubba Wallace, which followed his career and life during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
August 31, 2022: Switched Rides at 23XI Racing
On August 31, 2022, it was announced that Bubba Wallace and crew chief Barker would switch rides at 23XI for the remainder of the season, moving to the No. 45 car.
2022: Race: Bubba Wallace Docuseries
In 2022, Bubba Wallace was the subject of the Netflix docu-series Race: Bubba Wallace, which followed his career and life during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
2024: 2024 NASCAR Season
In 2024, Bubba Wallace started strong with two fifth-place finishes, but faced challenges and finished 18th overall in the NASCAR season with six top-ten finishes and 878 points. His crew chief would change to Charles Denike in 2025.
2025: Charles Denike Named Crew Chief
In 2025, Charles Denike is set to become Bubba Wallace's crew chief, replacing Bootie Barker.
