A graduate of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program, William Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr is the only active black driver in the NASCAR Cup Series. Netflix’s six-part docuseries titled “Race: Bubba Wallace” follows the hugely talented driver through his final two seasons in the sport. Bubba is also known for his activism against racial inequality beginning in 2020, around the time Black Lives Matter protests began in response to the death of George Floyd and many others. Bubba’s competitive spirit and racing spirit has been skillfully complemented by how he has grown as a person over the past two years, serving as an inspiration to many who want to get into the sport. .
Bubba started racing at age nine, and in 2010 he began his journey through the NASCAR power series. After winning several races in different series, Bubba temporarily raced for Richard Petty Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series, the sport’s top echelon. In 2018, he was a full-time rider, finishing second in the season-opening Daytona 500 in Florida. In October 2021, Bubba made history by becoming the first black driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race since 1963 by taking the checkered flag at Talladega Speedway in Alabama.
Where is Bubba Wallace now?
Bubba’s decision to take a stand against racism and use his platform to make it understood has been hailed by many. Racing in a sport whose majority of its fans are from the South, Bubba called for the Confederate flag to be banned around racetracks. He said in June 2020: “Nobody should feel uncomfortable when it comes to a NASCAR race. So it starts with the Confederate flags. Get them out of here. They have no place for them. NASCAR quickly agreed, announcing the ban a few days later.
There was controversy a few weeks later when a noose was found in Bubba’s garage at Talladega Speedway. Suspecting a hate crime, the FBI quickly became involved, but it was concluded that the noose was present a few months before the garage was awarded to Bubba. However, this has led many people to label him a fake, mistakenly assuming that he said he found the noose. Additionally, Bubba opened up about his struggle with depression and how he dealt with it.
Since the 2021 season, Bubba has raced for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan. The 28-year-old drives car number 23 and recently finished second at the Daytona 500, missing out on victory by just 0.036 seconds. Bubba believed he had a chance to win, saying, “I had no chance to fight the first time around in 2018. This one, being so close, is like a punch. So going from having all the confidence in the world to literally having it ripped out from under you is a really (expletive) feeling.
Bubba is also the founder of Live to be Different Foundation. It aims to encourage inclusiveness and support disadvantaged people with the educational, medical and other support required. Bubba also gives scholarships to students at his alma mater. Besides running, he enjoys drumming and mountain biking. From what we can tell, Bubba lives in North Carolina with his fiancée, Amanda Carter, and their pet dog, Asher.
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