Discover the defining moments in the early life of Bubba Wallace. From birth to education, explore key events.
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.
On October 8, 1993, William Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. was born. He would grow up to be an American professional stock car racing driver.
In 2015, NASCAR began asking fans to not display the Confederate flag after the Charleston church shooting.
On July 23, 2019, Bubba Wallace posted photos of Richard Petty autographing his arm and promised to tattoo it if the photos were retweeted 43,000 times, which happened on July 25. He got the tattoo less than a month later.
In 2019, Bubba Wallace revealed that he has dealt with depression throughout his racing career. He brought awareness to the widespread problem.
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.
On June 8, 2020, Bubba Wallace called on NASCAR to prohibit displays of the Confederate flag at races.
On June 10, 2020, NASCAR officially banned the display of the Confederate flag at its events.
On June 21, 2020, a member of Bubba Wallace's team reported a noose in his garage at Talladega. NASCAR condemned the act and pledged to investigate. Fellow drivers showed solidarity by pushing Wallace's car to the front before the race.
On June 25, 2020, NASCAR released a photo of the noose found in Bubba Wallace's garage. They inspected all garages and found only one noose. NASCAR also announced sensitivity training for personnel to prevent future incidents.
On July 6, 2020, President Donald Trump tweeted that Bubba Wallace should apologize for the noose investigation, calling it a hoax. However, Bubba Wallace received support from figures like Jimmie Johnson and LeBron James.
In 2020, Bubba Wallace clarified his faith and criticism of Michael McDowell, raising $20,034 for the Christian non-profit organization Motor Racing Outreach.
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.
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.
On July 30, 2021, Bubba Wallace got engaged to Amanda Carter, whom he would later marry.
Bubba Wallace married Amanda Carter on December 31, 2022. The couple has a son together.