Bubba Wallace

Wallace started racing in the Bandolero and Legends car racing series, as well as local late model events, at the age of nine.{{cite web|url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-02-20/sports/os-shannonowens-nascar-wallace-0221-20120220_1_nascar-hall-first-black-driver-darrell-wallace|title=Young driver aims to make NASCAR history|last=Owens|first=Shannon J.|date=February 20, 2012|work=Orlando Sentinel|access-date=May 8, 2012|location=Orlando, FL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029195731/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-02-20/sports/os-shannonowens-nascar-wallace-0221-20120220_1_nascar-hall-first-black-driver-darrell-wallace|archive-date=October 29, 2013}} In 2005, he won 35 of the Bandolero Series' 48 races held that year; in 2008 he became the youngest driver to win at Franklin County Speedway in Virginia.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2010-03-28-darrell-wallace-jr-east-series_N.htm|title=Barriers fall as Darrell Wallace Jr. wins in NASCAR's East tour|last=Graves|first=Gary|date=March 28, 2010|work=USA Today|access-date=May 9, 2012|location=McLean, VA}}

File:Darrell Wallace, Jr. Army.jpg, the sponsor of his East Series car in 2011, at Richmond that year.]]

File:K&N Pro East Series at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.jpg in 2012. Starting alongside him is the car he drove the prior year, the Rev Racing No. 6, now driven by Kyle Larson.]]

In 2010, Wallace began competing in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, a regional and developmental series. Wallace drove for Rev Racing as part of NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program,{{cite web|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/03/darrell_wallace_jr_set_to_make.html|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. set to make his debut with Gibbs Racing at Bristol|last=Demmons|first=Doug|date=March 16, 2012|work=The Birmingham News|access-date=May 8, 2012|location=Birmingham, AL}}{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/news/story?id=4581231|title=Drive for Diversity names 10 finalists|date=October 20, 2009|publisher=ESPN|access-date=May 9, 2012}} and was signed as a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing. He won his very first race in the series, at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, becoming the youngest driver ever to win at the track, he was also the youngest driver to win in the series history, which began as the Busch North Series in 1987.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/wallace-makes-historic-debut-in-nascar-pro-series|title=Wallace makes historic debut in NASCAR Pro Series|date=March 30, 2010|work=Fox Sports|access-date=May 8, 2012}} He also won later in the year at Lee USA Speedway in New Hampshire,{{cite web|url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/08/11/1604323/local-teen-wins-kn-pro-series.html|title=Local teen wins K&N Pro Series East race|date=August 11, 2010|work=Cabarrus News|publisher=The Charlotte Observer|access-date=May 8, 2012|location=Charlotte, NC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125132551/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/08/11/1604323/local-teen-wins-kn-pro-series.html|archive-date=November 25, 2012|url-status=dead}} on his way to finishing third in series points and winning the series' Rookie of the Year award.{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tim_tuttle/01/20/toyota.showdown.preview/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130225113154/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tim_tuttle/01/20/toyota.showdown.preview/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 25, 2013|title=Wallace, Harraka two to watch at Toyota All-Star Showdown|last=Tuttle|first=Tim|date=January 20, 2011|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=May 8, 2012}} He was the first African American to win the Rookie of the Year award in a NASCAR series.{{cite news|title=Driver, 17, garners diversity award|last=Fernandez|first=Frank|date=February 18, 2011|work=The Daytona Beach News-Journal|page=10A|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=NJ&p_theme=nj&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=1357E4C2D9581538&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D|access-date=May 9, 2012|location=Daytona Beach, FL}} Wallace's 2011 season would see him winning three times, at Richmond International Raceway, Columbus Motor Speedway, and Dover International Speedway, and he finished second in points to Max Gresham.

Wallace moved to race directly for Joe Gibbs Racing for the 2012 season. Racing the entire K&N East Series season along with four to six selected races in the Nationwide Series,{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2011-10-31/Darrell-Wallace-Jr-set-to-be-first-black-NASCAR-driver-since-2007/51028896/1|title=Darrell Wallace Jr., 18, set for opportunity with Gibbs|last=Graves|first=Gary|date=October 31, 2011|work=USA Today|access-date=May 8, 2012|location=McLean, VA}} Wallace won the second East event of the year at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, his first win with JGR.{{cite web|url=http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/04/darrell_wallace_jr_wins_nascar.html|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. wins NASCAR race at Greenville Pickens Speedway|last=Demmons|first=Doug|date=April 1, 2012|work=The Birmingham News|access-date=May 8, 2012|location=Birmingham, AL}}

In 2018, Wallace returned to K&N East at Watkins Glen driving the No. 27 Chevrolet for Jefferson Pitts Racing to provide him with extra road course seat time before the Cup Series race later that weekend.{{cite web|url=https://speedsport.com/nascar/touring-series/wallace-enters-watkins-glen-kn-east-race/|title=Wallace Enters Watkins Glen K&N East Race|publisher=Speed Sport|date=July 31, 2018|access-date=September 15, 2020}}

Wallace made his national series debut in the Xfinity Series in late May, driving the No. 20 Dollar General Toyota for JGR at Iowa Speedway;{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/nns-darrell-wallace-set-for-iowa-debut/|title=Darrell Wallace Set For Iowa Debut|last=Hembree|first=Mike|date=May 8, 2012|work=SPEED Channel|publisher=Fox Sports|access-date=May 8, 2012}} he ran in the top ten for most of the event, finishing 9th.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/story/2012-05-20/wallace-pastrana-busch-nationwide-iowa/55099174/1|title=Wallace Jr., Pastrana learn on the fly at Iowa Speedway|last=Emmert|first=Mark|date=May 20, 2012|work=USA Today|access-date=May 29, 2012|location=McLean, VA}} After posting further top ten finishes in his next two starts in the series, Wallace won his first career Nationwide Series pole at Dover International Speedway in late September.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/09/29/4300080/wallace-jr-wins-first-nationwide.html |title=Wallace Jr. wins first Nationwide pole at Dover |date=September 29, 2012 |work=The Herald |access-date=September 29, 2012 |location=Rock Hill, SC }}{{dead link|date=December 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 2014, he returned to the Nationwide Series for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 20, starting in May at Talladega Superspeedway where he would finish 34th after being involved in The Big One while running 13th.{{cite web|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nascar/story/darrell-wallace-jr-to-make-first-nns-start-of-2014-at-talladega-042314|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. to make first NNS start of 2014 at Talladega|last=Turner|first=Jared|date=April 23, 2014|work=Fox Sports|access-date=April 23, 2014}} He ran only one more Nationwide race that year, at Daytona in July with Coca-Cola's "Share a Coke" campaign sponsoring where he would finish a strong 7th.

File:Darrell Wallace Jr. at Thunder Valley third take cropped.jpg Rookie of the Race Award at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2015]]

File:6 Darrell Wallace Jr 2015 Road America.jpg

Following the 2014 season, it was expected that Wallace would move up to the Xfinity Series with Joe Gibbs Racing in a full-time ride, with the owner Joe Gibbs claiming they would have "a big program" for the young driver.{{cite web|last1=Pockrass|first1=Bob|title=Darrell Wallace Jr., Ryan Blaney among young stars still looking for 2015 sponsors|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2014-11-24/darrell-wallace-jr-ryan-blaney-among-young-stars-still-looking-for-2015-sponsors|website=Sporting News|access-date=December 10, 2014|date=November 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209172257/http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2014-11-24/darrell-wallace-jr-ryan-blaney-among-young-stars-still-looking-for-2015-sponsors|archive-date=December 9, 2014|url-status=dead}} After the team struggled to find sponsorship for more than 15 races, on December 8, 2014, Wallace announced he had been granted his request to leave JGR and seek other opportunities.{{cite magazine|last=Pockrass|first=Bob|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2014-12-08/darrell-bubba-wallace-jr-granted-release-joe-gibbs-racing-nascar-roush-xfinity-series|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. granted release from Joe Gibbs Racing|magazine=Sporting News|date=December 8, 2014|access-date=December 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209031950/http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2014-12-08/darrell-bubba-wallace-jr-granted-release-joe-gibbs-racing-nascar-roush-xfinity-series|archive-date=December 9, 2014|url-status=dead}} Later, it was reported he had signed a deal to compete in the Xfinity Series for Roush Fenway Racing for 2015 with Chad Norris as his crew chief. On December 18, 2014, RFR officially announced that they had signed Wallace to compete full-time in the No. 6 Ford Mustang in 2015, with sponsors and crew members to be announced at a later date. On January 28, 2015, at NASCAR Media Day, it was announced that Wallace would drive the No. 6 Ford EcoBoost Mustang.{{cite web|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/12/18/darrell-wallace-jr-xfinity-series-roush-fenway-racing.html|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. heads to Roush Fenway Racing|date=December 18, 2014|access-date=December 18, 2014|archive-date=December 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219022207/http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/12/18/darrell-wallace-jr-xfinity-series-roush-fenway-racing.html|url-status=dead}} Wallace started the season with a 12th-place finish at Daytona and earned 14 top-tens to finish 7th in the final point standings. He was beaten by Daniel Suárez for Rookie of the Year by a single top-ten finish.

File:6 Bubba Wallace 2016 Road America 180.jpg

Wallace finished 6th in the season opener at Daytona.{{Cite web |title=2024 - Xfinity Xfinity Results - ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/raceresults/_/series/xfinity/raceId/201602200306 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=ESPN.com}} He got his first top 3 of the season at California Speedway, in which he claimed 3rd after a dramatic final lap saw long time leader Kyle Busch blow a tyre giving the lead to Daniel Suarez temporarily as he would then run out of fuel just after passing Busch which then gave Busch back the lead, who was ultimately overtaken by Austin Dillon who would go onto win and Wallace would overtake Suarez, matching his career best finish, at the time, of 3rd.{{Cite web |title=2024 - Xfinity Xfinity Results - ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/raceresults/_/series/xfinity/raceId/201603190325 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=ESPN.com}} Wallace then earned his best career finish at Dover International Speedway finishing 2nd to the dominant Erik Jones but at the end of the season dropped to 11th overall in the points.{{Cite web |title=2024 - Xfinity Xfinity Results - ESPN |url=https://www.espn.com/racing/raceresults/_/series/xfinity/raceId/201603190325 |access-date=2024-10-22 |website=ESPN.com}} Wallace did make the inaugural Xfinity Series chase and made it to the round of 8 before being eliminated after the penultimate race at Phoenix.

File:Bubba Wallace Pocono Xfinity 2017.jpg

After finishing 33rd in the season-opening race at Daytona, Wallace finished in sixth place five consecutive times.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/xfinity/story/_/id/19112203/darrell-wallace-jr-notches-fifth-straight-sixth-place-finish-texas|title=Darrell Wallace Jr., driver of No. 6 car, finishes 6th in 5th straight race|last=Pockrass|first=Bob|work=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures|date=April 8, 2017|access-date=April 12, 2017}} However, at Bristol, Wallace struggled. After starting from last, Wallace was trapped a lap down throughout the race, eventually getting caught up in a late crash. Wallace would finish the race in 33rd. At Charlotte, Wallace would run upfront for a majority of the race, even leading for 3 laps, but a late-race pit stop relegated him behind the top ten. Wallace got loose and hit the wall with a few laps to go costing him a top ten and finishing 28th. However, despite being fourth in the Drivers' Championship standings, Roush Fenway announced that they would be suspending operations of Wallace's Xfinity Series team following the Pocono race weekend due to sponsorship issues.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/darrell-wallace-jr-to-make-monster-energy-series-debut-in-no-43-at-pocono-060517|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. to make Monster Energy Series debut in No. 43 at Pocono|work=Fox Sports|last=Wilhelm|first=Chase|date=June 5, 2017|access-date=June 5, 2017}}

Wallace signed with Biagi-DenBeste Racing to drive the No. 98 Ford at Chicagoland Speedway where he would score a 10th-place finish.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-xs/news/nascar-darrell-wallace-xfinity-series-950323/|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. returns to Xfinity Series at Chicagoland event|last=Spencer|first=Lee|work=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|date=September 7, 2017|access-date=September 7, 2017}}

File:Darrell Wallace Jr Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Rockingham 2013.jpg

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.{{cite web|url=http://aol.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2013-02-09/nascar-diversity-darrell-wallace-jr-joe-gibbs-racing-kyle-busch-truck-series|title=NASCAR diversity: Darrell Wallace Jr. hoping to become role model for black drivers after landing full-time ride|last=Pockrass|first=Bob|date=February 9, 2013|work=Sporting News|access-date=February 9, 2013}} At Rockingham Speedway in April Wallace, following accidental contact with Ron Hornaday Jr., was turned by Hornaday under a caution flag, his truck hitting the outside wall. Hornaday was penalized for the contact by being sent to the rear of the field; after the race, Hornaday was penalized 25 championship points and assessed a $25,000 fine, in addition to being placed on probation for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/hornaday-jr-penalized-for-intentional-wreck-at-rockingham/|title=Hornaday Jr. penalized for intentional wreck at Rockingham|date=April 17, 2013|work=Fox Sports|access-date=August 10, 2013}} The situation was compared to an incident at the 2011 WinStar World Casino 350K where Kyle Busch deliberately wrecked Hornaday at Texas Motor Speedway.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/blog/_/name/newton_david/id/9174696/nascar-ron-hornaday-jr-not-suspended-turning-darrell-wallace-jr|title=Hornaday should not be suspended|last=Newton|first=David|date=April 15, 2013|publisher=ESPN|access-date=August 12, 2013}}

On October 26, 2013, Wallace became the first African-American driver to win in one of NASCAR's national series since 1963, winning the Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2013/10/26/darrell-wallace-jr-martinsville-nascar-trucks-race/3251257/|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. makes NASCAR history with victory|last=Ryan|first=Nate|date=October 26, 2013|work=USA Today|access-date=October 26, 2013|location=McLean, VA}}{{cite web|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. takes historic NASCAR Trucks win at Martinsville|date=October 26, 2013 |url=http://motorsportstalk.nbcsports.com/2013/10/26/darrell-wallace-jr-takes-historic-nascar-trucks-win-at-martinsville/|publisher=NBC Sports|access-date=October 26, 2013}} The only previous win by an African-American driver was by Wendell Scott in the Grand National Division on December 1, 1963. Wallace finished 8th in points in his rookie season.

In 2014, Wallace returned to the Camping World Truck Series full-time in the No. 54. In June, Wallace won the Drivin' for Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park. Three weeks later, he battled Kyle Larson and Ron Hornaday Jr. for the win at Eldora Speedway. Wallace held off a hard charging Larson, who wrecked his car trying to catch him, and beat Hornaday by a 5.489-second margin to win the second annual Mudsummer Classic.{{cite web|last1=Pockrass|first1=Bob|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. wins at Eldora as Kyle Larson bangs the wall|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2014-07-24/kyle-larson-eldora-ohio-nascar-wall-darrell-wallace-truck-series|website=Sporting News|access-date=December 10, 2014|location=Rossburg, Ohio|date=July 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125194407/http://www.sportingnews.com/nascar/story/2014-07-24/kyle-larson-eldora-ohio-nascar-wall-darrell-wallace-truck-series|archive-date=November 25, 2014|url-status=dead}} Wallace switched to the No. 34 for the Kroger 200 at Martinsville in tribute to Wendell Scott,{{cite web|last=Richter|first=Josh|url=http://www.foxsports.com/nascar/shake-and-bake/nascar-hof-inductee-wendell-scott-to-be-honored-at-martinsville-091714|title=David Ragan, 'Bubba' Wallace to honor HOF inductee Wendell Scott|work=Foxsports.com|date=September 17, 2014|access-date=September 17, 2014}} and led the most laps en route to his second straight victory in the race. Wallace won his final race with KBM, the season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway, beating Larson again to earn his first non-short track victory.{{cite web|last1=Spencer|first1=Reid|title=DARRELL WALLACE JR. WINS HOMESTEAD-MIAMI TRUCK RACE|url=http://www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/articles/2014/11/14/ford-ecoboost-200-homestead-miami-recap-results-standings.html|website=nascar.com|publisher=NASCAR|access-date=December 10, 2014|location=Homestead, Florida|date=November 14, 2014}} Wallace's four wins along with nine top fives and 14 top tens led to a third-place finish in points.

Wallace returned to the Camping World Truck Series at Michigan in August, driving the No. 99 Truck for MDM Motorsports, and ended up winning the race, holding off Christopher Bell and Kyle Busch who rounded out the top three.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-truck/news/nascar-darrell-wallace-jr-michigan-truck-win-940817/|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. takes spectacular win in Michigan Truck race|work=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|last=Spencer|first=Lee|date=August 12, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2017}} However, Wallace's truck was discovered to have had illegal vent holes, resulting in an L1-level penalty that suspended crew chief Shane Huffman for one race and penalized the No. 99 team ten points.{{cite web|last=Spencer|first=Lee|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-truck/news/nascar-michigan-penalty-mdm-thorsport-941838/|title=MDM Motorsports penalized after Darrell Wallace Jr.'s Michigan win|publisher=Motorsport.com|date=August 16, 2017|access-date=May 11, 2018}}

In May, Wallace once again returned to the Truck Series, driving the No. 20 for Young's Motorsports at Kansas.{{cite web|url=https://mailchi.mp/ed69921e3272/bubba-wallace-joins-youngs-motorsports-for-fridays-37-kind-days-250-at-kansas-speedway|title=BUBBA WALLACE JOINS YOUNG'S MOTORSPORTS FOR FRIDAY'S 37 KIND DAYS 250 AT KANSAS SPEEDWAY|work=Young's Motorsports|date=May 8, 2018|access-date=May 8, 2018}} He finished 14th after running out of fuel from 5th with 4 laps to go.{{cite web|url=http://www.racing-reference.info/race/2018_37_Kind_Days_250/C|title=2018 37 Kind Days 250|work=Racing-Reference|access-date=May 11, 2018}}

File:Darrell wallace jr. (33605314328).jpg in the AM Racing No. 22 at Martinsville in March 2019]]

In March, Wallace returned to the Truck Series for the TruNorth Global 250 at Martinsville and Vankor 350 at Texas, driving the No. 22 for AM Racing. He filled in for the team's driver/owner, Austin Wayne Self, following his suspension. Wallace would finish 10th and 20th, respectively, in these two races.{{cite web |first=Dustin |last=Long |url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2019/03/20/bubba-wallace-entered-in-truck-race-at-martinsville/|title=Bubba Wallace entered in Truck race at Martinsville |website=NBC Sports |publisher=Comcast |date=March 20, 2019 |access-date=March 21, 2019}} Self would then be reinstated before the next race (at Dover) and he returned to his truck.

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. For this race, the truck was fielded in a partnership with Hattori Racing Enterprises. He finished 11th in the race.{{cite news |last=Estrada |first=Chris |url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2021/03/18/bubba-wallace-nascar-truck-series-bristol-dirt-race-spencer-davis-motorsports-hattori-racing-enterprises/ |title=Bubba Wallace lands ride for Bristol Truck dirt race |website=NBC Sports |publisher=Comcast |date=March 18, 2021}}

File:Darrell wallace jr. (34460922783).jpg

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/darrell-wallace-jr-to-make-nascar-cup-debut-in-rpm-s-iconic-no-43-914370/|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. to make NASCAR Cup debut in RPM's iconic No. 43|work=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|last=Spencer|first=Lee|date=June 5, 2017|access-date=June 5, 2017}} In qualifying for his Cup debut at the Pocono 400, he was able to advance to the second round and start 16th.{{cite web|last=Cain|first=Holly|url=http://www.nascar.com/news-media/2017/06/10/darrell-wallace-monster-energy-series-debut/|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. has strong support, solid game plan entering Pocono debut|publisher=NASCAR|date=June 10, 2017|access-date=June 11, 2017}} During the race, Wallace suffered from speeding penalties on pit road, including one while he was serving an earlier pass-through penalty;{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/darrell-wallace-jr-faints-briefly-235538135.html|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. faints after finishing 26th in NASCAR Cup debut|publisher=Yahoo! Sports|date=June 11, 2017|access-date=June 11, 2017|archive-date=August 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809132952/https://sports.yahoo.com/darrell-wallace-jr-faints-briefly-235538135.html|url-status=dead}} at one point, he nearly missed his pit stall because he looked for his Xfinity pit sign instead of the No. 43.{{cite web|last=Gelston|first=Dan|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/wallace-eyes-rare-black-nascar-driver-47972176|title=Wallace falls behind, falls ill in milestone 1st Cup start|work=ABC News|date=June 11, 2017|access-date=June 11, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He went on to finish 26th and one lap down. After congratulating Ryan Blaney in Victory Lane, Wallace passed out and required medical attention. He later stated, "This is the third time this is happened. I get so pissed off at myself that I just pass out."

Wallace earned a finish of 11th at Kentucky after being involved in a last-lap wreck.

File:Bubba Wallace 43 Sonoma 2018.jpg in 2018]]

After Aric Almirola announced his departure from Richard Petty Motorsports, team owner Richard Petty announced in an interview that he and the team were working on hiring Wallace as the new driver of the No. 43 in 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/nascar-petty-smithfield-darrell-wallace-jr-almirola-952221/|title=Darrell Wallace Jr. expected to replace Almirola at RPM in 2018|work=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|last=Spencer|first=Lee|date=September 12, 2017|access-date=October 18, 2017}} Wallace was officially introduced to the team as their new driver on October 25, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.motorsport.com/nascar-cup/news/nascar-darrell-wallace-jr-richard-petty-motorsports-970073/|title=Confirmed: Darrell Wallace Jr. to drive No. 43 RPM Ford in 2018.|last=Spencer|first=Lee|work=Motorsport.com|publisher=Motorsport Network|date=October 25, 2017|access-date=October 25, 2017}} He is the first African-American driver to have a full-time Cup ride since Wendell Scott in 1971.

Prior to the season-opening Daytona 500, Wallace received support from National Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Matthew|url=https://www.cbssports.com/general/news/daytona-500-darrell-bubba-wallace-jr-wins-over-nascar-fans-finishes-second/|title=Darrell 'Bubba' Wallace Jr. wins over NASCAR fans, finishes second|publisher=CBSSports.com|date=February 19, 2018|access-date=May 8, 2018}} He drove the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro to finish second behind Austin Dillon, the highest finish by a full-time rookie driver in race history, after beating Denny Hamlin to the start/finish line by .002 seconds.{{cite news|last=Martinelli|first=Michelle R.|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/02/darrell-bubba-wallace-jr-nascar-daytona-500-austin-dillon-emotional-press-conference-video|title=Bubba Wallace celebrates 2nd-place Daytona 500 finish with tears and hug from his mom|newspaper=USA Today|date=February 18, 2018|access-date=May 8, 2018}} Wallace, however, scored only two additional top-10 finishes at the spring Texas race and the fall Phoenix race. He finished 28th place in the final point standings.

In October 2018, Wallace was named in Ebony magazine's Power 100 list, joining the ranks of Stephen Curry, Antonio Brown, Venus Williams and former president and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2018/10/17/bubba-wallace-named-ebony-power-100-list/ |title=Bubba Wallace named to EBONY Power 100 list |work=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media LLC |date=October 17, 2018 |access-date=October 19, 2018}}

File:191006-F-BO262-1216.jpg]]

Despite continuing to have mediocre finishes in the 2019 season, Wallace displayed his full potential with RPM at the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race by winning the second stage of the Monster Energy Open and finishing fifth in the All-Star Race. His other highlight of the early-to-mid summer was at Watkins Glen, when he spun Kyle Busch off the track on lap 61.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/08/04/bubba-wallace-kyle-busch-watkins-glen-monster-energy-series/ |title=Wallace on Kyle Busch: 'I won't put up with no (expletive)' |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=August 4, 2019 |access-date=August 5, 2019}}

At the Brickyard 400, Wallace had one of the best runs of his career by finishing third after running top 10 all day long.{{cite web |url=https://www.jayski.com/2019/09/08/bubba-wallace-celebrates-unforgettable-third-place-run-at-indianapolis/ |title=Bubba Wallace celebrates "unforgettable" third-place run at Indianapolis |first=Scott |last=Page |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=September 8, 2019 |access-date=September 9, 2019}} He continued to show improvements to his finishes during the season, notably at Richmond, where he started 37th and finished 12th.{{cite web |url=https://tobychristie.com/2019/09/21/bubba-wallace-goes-from-37th-to-13th-in-impressive-richmond-showing/ |title=Bubba Wallace Goes From 37th to 12th in Impressive Richmond Showing |first=Toby |last=Christie |website=TobyChristie.com |date=September 22, 2019 |access-date=September 23, 2019}}

At the Charlotte Roval, Wallace finished 24th after Alex Bowman spun him out on lap 42 after Wallace gave Bowman the middle finger gesture on several laps. Wallace retaliated after the race by splashing water on Bowman's face.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/09/29/bubba-wallace-confronts-alex-bowman-post-race/ |title=Bubba Wallace confronts Alex Bowman post-race, throws drink |first=Zack |last=Albert |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=September 29, 2019 |access-date=September 30, 2019}} NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O'Donnell said on Sirius XM NASCAR Radio that officials plan to have a conversation with Wallace about the altercation.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/09/30/steve-odonnell-siriusxm-roval-roundup-bubba-wallace-alex-bowman/ |title=O'Donnell: Officials plan conversation with Bubba Wallace after Roval dust-up |first=Zack |last=Albert |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=September 30, 2019 |access-date=October 1, 2019}} On October 5, 2019, Wallace apologized to Jeff Gordon, AMR NASCAR Safety medical director Dr. Angela Fiege, and Hendrick Motorsports executive Jeff Andrews for getting them splashed during the incident, but stated that he does not regret what he did to Bowman.{{cite web |url=https://www.jayski.com/2019/10/05/alex-bowman-talks-about-incident-with-bubba-wallace-at-charlotte/ |title=Alex Bowman talks about incident with Bubba Wallace at Charlotte UPDATE: Wallace comments |first=Scott |last=Page |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=October 5, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2019}}

On November 9, 2019, Wallace was fined $50,000 and docked 50 points for intentionally manipulating competition at Texas when he spun his car on the track after experiencing a tire failure.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/11/09/nascar-bubba-wallace-penalty-texas-spin/ |title=NASCAR penalizes Wallace for intentionally manipulating competition during Texas race |first=Pat |last=DeCola |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=November 9, 2019 |access-date=November 11, 2019}} He once again finished 28th in the final points standings.

File:Bubba wallace crash (50119562088).jpg in the All-Star Open]]

For the 2020 season, Wallace was reunited with crew chief Jerry Baxter, who worked with him in the Truck Series.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/01/06/richard-petty-motorsports-pegs-jerry-baxter-as-no-43-crew-chief/ |title=Richard Petty Motorsports pegs Jerry Baxter as No. 43 crew chief |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=January 6, 2020 |access-date=May 24, 2020}} In the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas, Wallace finished sixth for his best finish on a 1.5-mile track.{{cite web|last=McFadin|first=Daniel|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/02/24/bubba-wallace-ty-dillon-kyle-busch-chase-elliott-better-starts-than-many-cup-stars/|title=Bubba Wallace, Ty Dillon off to better 2020 starts than Cup champions|publisher=NBC Sports|date=February 24, 2020|access-date=May 24, 2020}} When the season was halted after four races due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was 18th in points.

During the stoppage, he participated in the NASCAR-sanctioned eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series, where he made headlines at the sim racing league's Bristol event for quitting early by choice after wrecking on the 11th lap. Wallace responded to fan criticism by mocking how easily they got offended over a video game. In response, his main sponsor Blue-Emu dropped its sponsorship of the virtual No. 43 car. Blue-Emu executive vice president Ben Blessing said that Wallace's outburst would have been unacceptable during a physical race. As Blessing saw it, Wallace's outburst was not the act of a NASCAR driver, but of "someone like my 13-year-old son who broke his controller playing some game where he builds houses."{{cite web |last1=Weaver |first1=Matt |title=Sponsor Drops Bubba Wallace for 'Rage Quitting' Bristol eNASCAR iRacing Event |url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/a32046172/sponsor-drops-bubba-wallace-for-rage-quitting-bristol-enascar-iracing-event/ |website=Autoweek |publisher=Hearst Digital Media |access-date=April 6, 2020 |date=April 5, 2020}} Later in the Pro Invitational season, after initially posting a tweet seeking a spotter for the event at Talladega,{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/BubbaWallace/status/1253376889512738817 |title=Anybody ready for a spotting gig? Looking for a new one.... |first=Bubba |last=Wallace |publisher=Twitter |date=April 24, 2020 |access-date=June 22, 2020}} Wallace announced that he would "opt-out," stating that practicing for the iRacing events was too difficult: "I simply get burnt out after a day. Not the games fault, just been like that for years."{{cite news |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/nascar-news-wallace-skip-talladega-155520411.html |title=NASCAR news: Wallace to skip Talladega eNASCAR race over sim racing "burn out" |first=Jim |last=Utter |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=April 25, 2020 |access-date=June 22, 2020}}

Wallace scored a second top ten in the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol after starting 36th.{{cite news|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/06/01/bubba-wallace-drives-no-43-chevrolet-camaro-to-10th-place-finish-at-bristol-motor-speedway/|title=Bubba Wallace drives No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro to 10th-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway|work=NASCAR|date=June 1, 2020|access-date=September 12, 2020}} Further top tens came in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis and FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan with ninth-place finishes in both.{{cite press release|url=http://richardpettymotorsports.com/news/bubba-wallace-finishes-9th-at-indianapolis-motor-speedway/|title=Bubba Wallace Finishes 9th at Indianapolis Motor Speedway|work=Richard Petty Motorsports|date=July 6, 2020|access-date=September 12, 2020}}{{cite magazine|last=Weaver|first=Matt|url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/a33554438/bubba-wallace-hopeful-to-close-big-deal-after-michigan-top-10/|title=Bubba Wallace Hopeful to Close 'Big Deal' after Michigan Top-10|magazine=Autoweek|date=August 9, 2020|access-date=September 12, 2020}} In the regular season-ending Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, he recorded a fifth-place finish despite being involved in a late-race wreck.{{cite news|last=Taranto|first=Steven|url=https://247sports.com/Article/Jimmie-Johnson-misses-NASCAR-Cup-Playoffs-multi-car-crash-Coke-Zero-Sugar-400-150852545/|title=Late crash likely ends Jimmie Johnson's hopes of making playoffs|publisher=247Sports.com|date=August 27, 2020|access-date=September 12, 2020}}{{cite magazine|author=Getty Images|url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/g33841243/gallery-nascar-cup-coke-zero-sugar-400-at-daytona/|title=Gallery: NASCAR Cup Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona|magazine=Autoweek|date=August 30, 2020|access-date=September 12, 2020}}

On September 10, 2020, Wallace announced he would leave RPM at the end of the 2020 season.{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/29853350/nascar-driver-bubba-wallace-leaving-richard-petty-motorsports-season|title=NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace leaving Richard Petty Motorsports after season|website=ESPN.com|publisher=ESPN|date=September 10, 2020|access-date=September 12, 2020}} He finished 22nd in the points standings.{{cite web |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/yeardet/2020/W |title=NASCAR Cup Series standings for 2020 |website=Racing-Reference.info |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |access-date=November 9, 2020}}

File:Bubba wallace austin dillon (50949575493).jpg (No. 3) in Bluegreen Vacations Duel #2, which they would finish 1–2 in.]]

On September 21, 2020, Michael Jordan announced he and NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin had created a NASCAR team, named 23XI Racing with Wallace serving as the first driver in the No. 23.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/10/22/michael-jordan-denny-hamlin-team-name-23xi-racing-bubba-wallace/ |title=Jordan, Hamlin announce team name and No. 23 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=October 22, 2020 |access-date=October 22, 2020}} Wallace was replaced by Ty Dillon in the 2021 Busch Clash as Wallace was not eligible to compete in the race.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2021/02/03/23xi-racing-ty-dillon-busch-clash-entry-daytona/ |title=Ty Dillon to drive 23XI Racing entry in Busch Clash |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=February 3, 2021 |access-date=February 3, 2021}} After qualifying fourth for the Daytona 500, he finished second in his Bluegreen Vacations Duel to Austin Dillon.{{cite magazine|last=Crandall|first=Kelly|url=https://racer.com/2021/02/11/austin-dillon-triumphs-in-second-duel-thriller/|title=Austin Dillon triumphs in second Duel thriller|magazine=Autoweek|date=February 11, 2021|access-date=February 13, 2021}} He was classified 17th in the Daytona 500 after being involved in a fiery last-lap wreck.{{cite news|url=https://www.frontstretch.com/2021/02/17/2-headed-monster-has-perception-of-daytona-500-changed-due-to-high-crash-rate/|title=2-Headed Monster: Has Perception of Daytona 500 Changed Due to High Crash Rate?|work=Frontstretch|date=February 17, 2021|access-date=February 21, 2021}} Wallace scored a second-place finish at the August Daytona Race. He originally placed third, but due to a post-race car inspection failure on the No. 17 car of Chris Buescher, his result was increased to second, equaling his best ever Cup Series result at the 2018 Daytona 500.{{cite web|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2021/06/27/bubba-wallace-michael-jordan-mike-wheeler-denny-hamlin-season-best-fifth-place-finish-shows-what-we-can-do/|title=Bubba Wallace: Season-best fifth-place finish 'shows what we can do'|last=Long|first=Dustin|publisher=NBC Sports|date=June 27, 2021|access-date=July 2, 2021}} On October 4, 2021, Wallace earned his first career Cup win at Talladega after the race was shortened due to rain. Wallace is the first African-American driver to win a Cup Series race since Wendell Scott in 1963.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/sports/autoracing/nascar-bubba-wallace-talladega.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/04/sports/autoracing/nascar-bubba-wallace-talladega.html |archive-date=2021-12-28 |url-access=limited |title=Bubba Wallace Gets a Breakthrough NASCAR Victory at Talladega |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 4, 2021 |access-date=October 5, 2021}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2021/10/04/cup-series-playoffs-talladega-bubba-wallace-joins-wendell-scott/ |title=Bubba Wallace joins Wendell Scott as second Black driver to win in NASCAR's top series |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=October 4, 2021 |access-date=October 5, 2021}} Wallace also scored the first win for a McDonald's-sponsored car since Jimmy Spencer in 1994.{{cite web | last=Fenwick | first=Adam | title=Bubba Wallace Scores Historical Talladega Victory | website=SPEED SPORT | date=October 4, 2021 | url=https://www.speedsport.com/nascar/nascar-cup-series/bubba-wallace-scores-historical-talladega-victory/ | access-date=October 5, 2021}}

File:2022 Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (51967051326).jpg in 2022]]

Wallace continued with 23XI Racing alongside new teammate Kurt Busch.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2021/08/27/kurt-busch-joins-23xi-racing-to-drive-second-cup-car-in-2022/ |title=Kurt Busch joins 23XI Racing to drive second Cup car in 2022 |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=August 27, 2021 |access-date=August 27, 2021}} He raced at the 2022 Daytona 500 with a full McDonald's sponsored paint scheme, finishing runner-up to Austin Cindric by 0.036 seconds. Wallace was in contention late in the race at Atlanta, but would finish 13th after being involved in a wreck on the last lap.{{Cite news |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nascar/news/2022-daytona-500-results-austin-cindric-wins-topping-bubba-wallace-and-ryan-blaney-in-thrilling-finish/live/ |title=2022 Daytona 500 results: Austin Cindric wins, topping Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney in thrilling finish |last=Taranto |first=Steven |work=CBS Sports |date=February 20, 2022 |access-date=February 20, 2022}} On March 29, 2022, crew chief Bootie Barker was suspended for four races due to a tire and wheel loss during the 2022 Texas Grand Prix at COTA. Dave Rogers was announced as Wallace's crew chief for Richmond, Martinsville, Bristol, and Talladega.{{cite web |url=https://www.jayski.com/2022/03/29/cota-penalties-announced-bootie-barker-suspended-four-races/ |title=COTA Penalties Announced; Bootie Barker Suspended Four Races |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=March 29, 2022 |access-date=March 30, 2022}} At Michigan, Wallace won his first career pole and finished second to Kevin Harvick.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/08/07/bubba-wallace-laments-runner-up-finish-at-michigan/ |title=Bubba Wallace laments runner-up finish at Michigan |first=Zach |last=Sturniolo |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=August 7, 2022 |access-date=August 8, 2022}} Following the final regular season race at Daytona Wallace, in a must-win situation, failed to qualify for the Playoffs.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/nascar-cup-series/2022/playoffs/ |title=2022 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=August 28, 2022 |access-date=August 29, 2022}} However, on August 31, 2022, it was announced that Bubba, along with crew chief Barker, would switch rides at 23XI for the remainder of the season, as they move over to the No. 45 car as it seeks the owner's championship.{{Cite news |last=Montgomery |first=Sean |date=August 31, 2022 |title=Number swap: 23XI Racing to pursue owners' championship with Wallace in No. 45 |work=NASCAR.com |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/08/31/number-swap-23xi-racing-to-pursue-owners-championship-with-wallace-in-no-45/ |access-date=August 31, 2022}} On September 11, Wallace scored his second win at Kansas after leading the final 67 laps and holding off Hamlin.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/09/11/results-cup-series-playoffs-2022-kansas-speedway-race-recap/ |title=Bubba Wallace plays playoff spoiler, surges to Kansas win |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=September 11, 2022 |access-date=September 12, 2022}} At Las Vegas, Kyle Larson charged aggressively past Kevin Harvick and Wallace, causing Wallace to scrape the outside wall. Wallace retaliated with a right rear hook on Larson, wrecking both cars down the front stretch and severely damaging Christopher Bell's car in the process. During the caution, Wallace engaged in a shoving match with Larson.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/10/16/nascar-cup-series-bubba-wallace-las-vegas-playoffs/ |title=Bubba Wallace confronts Kyle Larson after wreck involving Christopher Bell |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=October 16, 2022 |access-date=October 17, 2022}} Wallace was suspended for one race for the incident; John Hunter Nemechek was assigned to drive the No. 45 at Homestead.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/10/18/bubba-wallace-suspended-after-las-vegas-incident-no-18-team-penalized/ |title=Bubba Wallace suspended after Las Vegas incident; No. 18 team penalized |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=October 18, 2022 |access-date=October 19, 2022}} He ended the campaign 19th in the drivers' standings.

File:Bubba wallace (52866408256).jpg in 2023]]

Wallace started the 2023 season with a 20th-place finish at the 2023 Daytona 500. He improved his finishes enough to make the playoffs for the first time in his career.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/08/26/cup-series-race-recap-daytona-summer |title=Chris Buescher wins regular-season finale at Daytona; Wallace makes playoffs |first=Holly |last=Cain |website=NASCAR |date=August 26, 2023 |access-date=August 27, 2023}} Although improving in overall points, achieving 5 top 5 finishes, and 10 top10 finishes, 2023 was the first winless season for Wallace since his first win at Talladega in 2021.{{Cite web |date=November 6, 2023 |title=2023 Standings Racing Reference |url=https://www.racing-reference.info/standings/2023/W/}} Wallace advanced to the Round of 12 following the Bristol night race after Joey Logano and Kevin Harvick were eliminated due to issues late in the race.{{cite web |url=https://www.jayski.com/2023/09/16/martin-truex-jr-bubba-wallace-survive-round-of-16/ |title=Martin Truex Jr., Bubba Wallace survive Round of 16 |first=Dustin |last=Albino |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media |date=September 16, 2023 |access-date=September 18, 2023}} He was eliminated from the Round of 12 at the conclusion of the Charlotte Roval race.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2023/10/08/results-cup-series-2023-charlotte-roval-playoffs-race-recap/ |title=AJ Allmendinger holds off William Byron for emotional Charlotte Roval victory |first=Reid |last=Spencer |website=NASCAR |date=October 8, 2023 |access-date=October 9, 2023}}

File:Bubba wallace (53643468938).jpg in 2024]]

Bubba Wallace had an impressive start to 2024 achieving two fifth-place finishes in the first two races of the season.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2024/nascar-cup-series/daytona-500/stn/results/ |title=Daytona 500 Race Results |website=NASCAR |date=February 18, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2024/nascar-cup-series/atlanta-motor-speedway-1/stn/results/ |title=Ambetter Health 400 Race Results |website=NASCAR |date=February 25, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}} However, following a 35th-place finish at Las Vegas,{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2024/nascar-cup-series/las-vegas-motor-speedway-1/stn/results/ |title=Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube Race Results |website=NASCAR |date=March 3, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}} Wallace struggled to regain competitiveness for the next five races until a fourth-place finish at Martinsville{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/results/racecenter/2024/nascar-cup-series/martinsville-speedway-1/stn/results/ |title=Cook Out 400 Race Results |website=NASCAR |date=April 7, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}} Since Martinsville, Wallace has finished three times in the top 10 at Texas, Darlington, and Nashville. At the Chicago Street Race on July 7, Wallace was involved in a spin after he got turned by Alex Bowman, who would later go on to win that very same race. After the race, Wallace intentionally collided with Bowman's car during the cool-down lap. Per NASCAR, Wallace, "driver of the No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota, was fined $50,000 for violating Sections 4.4.B & D: NASCAR Member Code of Conduct, and finished the race in 13th and currently sits 17th in the playoff standings, 45 points underneath the elimination line for the 16-driver field."{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2024/07/10/penalty-report-bubba-wallace-fined-after-post-race-incident-at-chicago/ |title=Penalty report: Bubba Wallace fined after post-race incident at Chicago |website=NASCAR |date=July 10, 2024 |access-date=July 11, 2024}} Despite scoring decent finishes during the regular season, Wallace failed to make the playoffs after Chase Briscoe won at Darlington. Following the Martinsville playoff race, the No. 23 was docked 50 owner and driver points and Wallace and the team were each fined {{USD}}100,000 for race manipulation, when Wallace faked a tire failure and slowed down to allow fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell to pass him in an attempt to make the Championship 4. In addition, Barker was suspended for the Phoenix finale.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2024/11/05/nascar-issues-major-penalties-to-three-cup-series-teams-after-martinsville/ |title=NASCAR issues major penalties to three Cup Series teams after Martinsville |website=NASCAR |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=November 6, 2024}}

Despite a promising early season, Bubba Wallace finished the 2024 NASCAR season in 18th place overall with no wins, and six top-ten finishes while accumulating 878 points. This represents Bubba's second best overall finish in the NASCAR Cup Series.{{cite web | url=https://www.nascar.com/standings/nascar-cup-series/ | title=NASCAR Cup Series Standings & Stats }} On October 30, 23XI Racing announced that Bootie Barker, the 23 team's crew chief since 2021, would move to another position within the organization and that Charles Denike, who comes from the Truck Series, would be Wallace’s crew chief in 2025. {{cite web | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nascar/news/bubba-wallace-frustrated-martinsville-penalty-keeps-crew-chief-bootie-barker-away-from-phoenix | title=Bubba Wallace frustrated Martinsville penalty keeps crew chief Bootie Barker away from Phoenix | date=November 10, 2024 }}

On June 21, 2020, a member of Wallace's team reported to NASCAR that a noose had been placed in Wallace's garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway, which NASCAR president Steve Phelps relayed to Wallace in the evening.{{cite news|date=June 25, 2020|title=NASCAR completes investigation into No. 43 garage stall at Talladega|work=NASCAR|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/06/25/nascar-completes-investigation-into-no-43-garage-stall-at-talladega/|access-date=June 25, 2020}} The organization condemned the act as "heinous" and said they would consult with law enforcement. Wallace stated that he was "incredibly saddened" by the "painful reminder of how much further we have to go as a society and how persistent we must be in the fight against racism," but also praising his fellow drivers that are "driving real change and championing a community that is accepting and welcoming of everyone."{{cite news|date=June 22, 2020|title=NASCAR says noose found in Wallace's garage|language=en|work=ESPN.com|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/29345568/nascar-says-noose-found-bubba-wallace-garage-talladega}} Before the GEICO 500 race the next day, the drivers and crews pushed Wallace's car to the front of pit road in a show of solidarity, a gesture that drivers Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick proposed.{{cite news|date=June 22, 2020|title=Bubba Wallace on emotional race and show of support: 'Sport is changing'|work=ESPN|publisher=ESPN.com|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/29347848/richard-petty-attend-talladega-support-bubba-wallace|access-date=June 25, 2020}}

A day after the race, an investigation by the FBI concluded that Wallace was not the victim of a hate crime: the alleged noose was a pull-down rope with a loop, in the style of a hangman's knot, that was located on an overhead door, and had been in the garage since the fall Talladega race in 2019.{{cite web|author=Associated Press|date=2020-06-23|title=FBI says rope had been in Talladega garage since October; Bubba Wallace not victim of hate crime|url=https://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/29354447/fbi-says-rope-had-talladega-garage-last-fall-bubba-wallace-not-victim-hate-crime|access-date=2020-06-23|publisher=ESPN|df=mdy-all}} The FBI's determination led to people criticizing Wallace on social media as fake and questioning his integrity.{{cite web|last=Rosenblatt|first=Kalhan|date=2020-06-24|title=Bubba Wallace 'relieved' by FBI finding no crime in noose but frustrated by reaction|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bubba-wallace-says-relieved-fbi-finding-no-crime-noose-frustrated-n1231968|access-date=2020-06-24|work=NBC News|df=mdy-all}}{{cite web|last=Maxouris|first=Christina|date=2020-06-24|title=Bubba Wallace responds to FBI findings: 'Whether tied in 2019, or whatever, it was a noose'|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/24/us/bubba-wallace-response-fbi-hate-crime-investigation/index.html|access-date=2020-06-24|publisher=CNN|df=mdy-all}} Wallace stated in interviews that although he was relieved that he was not specifically targeted, he was frustrated by the backlash he received. He nonetheless vowed not to let the incident or the subsequent "hoax" allegations "break" him. He added that regardless of "whether [it was] tied in 2019" or "wasn't directed at me... somebody tied a noose."{{cite news|date=June 24, 2020|title=Bubba Wallace Responds to Critics: 'It's a Straight-Up Noose'|language=en|work=deadspin.com|url=https://deadspin.com/bubba-wallace-responds-to-critics-its-a-straight-up-no-1844147873}}

File:President Trump and the First Lady at the NASCAR Daytona 500 Race (49553052217).jpg at the 2020 Daytona 500, who would later criticize Wallace in a tweet on July 6 of that year]]

On June 25, 2020, NASCAR released a photo of the noose taken by security. In a teleconference later that day, Phelps explained NASCAR had inspected every garage at the sanctioning body's 29 tracks, with 11 garages containing pull-down ropes tied in knots but only Wallace's being tied into a noose.{{cite news|last=Clarke|first=Liz|date=June 25, 2020|title=NASCAR releases noose photo, but investigation can't determine who tied it|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/06/25/nascar-investigation-cant-determine-who-tied-noose-talladega-garage-stall/|access-date=June 25, 2020}} Although the individual responsible was not identified, Phelps announced that NASCAR would require sensitivity and unconscious bias training for its personnel and that "Bubba Wallace and the 43 team had nothing to do with this."

Two weeks after the GEICO 500, on July 6, 2020, President Donald Trump tweeted that Wallace should apologize for the investigation, branding it a hoax while adding it and NASCAR's Confederate flag ban "has caused lowest ratings EVER!" Trump's ratings claim was refuted by Fox Sports executive vice president Michael Mulvihill, who said the ratings had increased by eight percent since the 2020 season resumed in May, while Wallace received support from figures like Johnson, driver Tyler Reddick, and basketball player LeBron James.{{cite news|last1=Colvin|first1=Jill|last2=Fryer|first2=Jenna|date=July 6, 2020|title=Trump sideswipes NASCAR, Wallace over flag and noose|newspaper=The Register Citizen|agency=AP|url=https://www.registercitizen.com/sports/article/Trump-lashes-out-at-NASCAR-Bubba-Wallace-over-15388501.php|access-date=July 6, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729035202/https://www.registercitizen.com/sports/article/Trump-lashes-out-at-NASCAR-Bubba-Wallace-over-15388501.php|url-status=dead}}

Wallace founded and runs the Live to be Different Foundation.{{cite web |url=https://www.jayski.com/2020/09/08/urban-outfitters-nascar-richard-petty-motorsports-partner-to-help-bubba-wallaces-foundation/ |title=Urban Outfitters, NASCAR, Richard Petty Motorsports partner to help Bubba Wallace's foundation |website=Jayski's Silly Season Site |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC |date=September 8, 2020 |access-date=March 19, 2021}} He was also the National Motorsports Press Association's Pocono Spirit Award winner for the second quarter of 2020,{{cite web |first=Dustin |last=Long |url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/08/26/bubba-wallace-recipient-of-nmpa-pocono-spirit-award-for-second-quarter/ |title=Bubba Wallace recipient of NMPA Pocono Spirit Award for second quarter |website=NBC Sports |publisher=Comcast |date=August 26, 2020 |access-date=March 19, 2021}} and the recipient of the Comcast Community Champion of the Year award for 2020.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/11/06/bubba-wallace-named-2020-comcast-community-champion-of-the-year/ |title=Bubba Wallace named 2020 Comcast Community Champion of the Year |website=NBC Sports |publisher=Comcast |date=November 6, 2020 |access-date=March 19, 2021}}

In May 2020, after the murder of George Floyd by Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis, Wallace began to speak out about the abuse of African Americans by the police, becoming the face of stock car racing's involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement. On June 8, 2020, he called on NASCAR to prohibit displays of the Confederate battle flag at NASCAR races. In 2015, after the publication of photographs showing the white man who killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, posing with the flag, the organization began asking fans not to display the flag at its races. However, many fans in the South continued to hoist the Confederate flag at races.{{cite web|date=June 9, 2020|title=Bubba Wallace Wants NASCAR to Ban the Confederate Flag|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/sports/autoracing/bubba-wallace-nascar-confederate-flag.html|work=The New York Times}} On June 10, 2020, NASCAR officially banned the display of the flag at its events.{{cite web|date=June 10, 2020|title=NASCAR Bans Confederate Flag From Its Races and Properties|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2020/06/10/nascar-bans-confederate-flag-from-its-races-and-properties|work=The Boston Globe}}

In the 2020 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway, Wallace's car had a special paint scheme to honor Black Lives Matter when no other sponsor could be found for that race. The car featured an illustration of black and white hands interlocking together on the hood of the car, the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on the side, and the phrase "Compassion, Love, Understanding" on both the hood and the back bumper. Richard Petty, owner of Richard Petty Motorsports, contributed to the livery by adding a peace symbol on the rear quarter-panel of the car that features hands of all colors circling inside the peace symbol.{{cite web|last=Haislop|first=Tadd|date=June 11, 2020|title=Bubba Wallace's Black Lives Matter car: Why he changed No. 43 paint scheme for the Martinsville race|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nascar/news/bubba-wallaces-black-lives-matter-car-paint-scheme-martinsville/kwriho0g7ov516p1oo4g4alyq/|access-date=June 13, 2020|work=Sporting News}}{{cite web|last=McCarriston|first=Shanna|date=June 9, 2020|title=Bubba Wallace to drive Black Lives Matter scheme car at Martinsville race|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nascar/news/bubba-wallace-to-drive-black-lives-matter-scheme-car-at-martinsville-race/|access-date=June 13, 2020|work=CBS Sports}} The livery was made after Richard Petty Motorsports failed to secure a primary sponsorship for the race. The team later suggested the idea to Wallace to run an all-black car to honor the movement.{{cite magazine|last=Gartland|first=Dan|date=June 10, 2020|title=Bubba Wallace to Drive Black Lives Matter Car at Wednesday's NASCAR Race at Martinsville|url=https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2020/06/10/nascar-bubba-wallace-black-lives-matter-car-paint-martinsville|access-date=June 13, 2020|magazine=Sports Illustrated}} Wallace finished 11th after securing top-ten finishes in both stages, his career-best at Martinsville in the Cup Series.{{cite web|date=June 12, 2020|title=Bubba Wallace picking up speed on, off track amid social-injustice discussions|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/06/12/bubba-wallace-picking-up-speed-on-off-track-amid-social-injustice-discussions/|access-date=June 13, 2020|publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC.}}

Wallace was born in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Concord, North Carolina.

Born to a black mother and a white father,{{cite news|last=James|first=Théodon|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nascar-auto-racing/article244046107.html|title=Bubba Wallace's long road through racism, and how it led to his being targeted by Trump|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|date=July 8, 2020|access-date=February 22, 2021}} Wallace is the son of Darrell Wallace Sr. and Desiree Wallace.{{cite news|title=Young Concord Driver Blazes His Own Trail|date=October 21, 2009|work=Cabarrus News|publisher=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte, NC|page=6J|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CO&s_site=charlotte&p_multi=CO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12C8A133ED63E368&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D|access-date=May 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030201409/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CO&s_site=charlotte&p_multi=CO&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12C8A133ED63E368&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|archive-date=October 30, 2014}} His father is the owner of an industrial cleaning company, and his mother is a social worker who ran track at the University of Tennessee.{{cite web|url=http://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mark-story/article44494755.html|title=Mark Story: Wallace Jr. gives NASCAR a chance to look more like America|last=Story|first=Mark|publisher=Kentucky.com|date=June 23, 2014|access-date=September 7, 2017}}

Wallace is best friends with fellow NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney.{{cite web|url=http://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/kyle-larson-and-ryan-blaney-joke-about-nascar-bromances-and-man-dates|title=Kyle Larson and Ryan Blaney joke about NASCAR bromances and man dates|work=USA Today|publisher=Gannett Company|last=Martinelli|first=Michelle R.|date=April 26, 2017|access-date=September 7, 2017}} The two first met when they raced Bandoleros in their youth.{{cite magazine|last=Weaver|first=Matt|url=https://www.autoweek.com/racing/nascar/a32940254/how-the-nascar-community-rose-to-the-occasion-to-support-bubba-wallace/|title=How the NASCAR Community Rose to the Occasion to Support Bubba Wallace|magazine=Autoweek|date=June 23, 2020|access-date=June 23, 2020}}

In 2019, Wallace revealed that he dealt with and continues to deal with depression for most of his racing career.{{cite news |last1=Gelston |first1=Dan |title=Bubba Wallace hopes full sponsorship leads to better results for the No. 43 |url=https://www.news-journalonline.com/sports/20190531/bubba-wallace-hopes-full-sponsorship-leads-to-better-results-for-no-43 |newspaper=Daytona Beach News-Journal |access-date=June 1, 2019}} After others reached out to him to thank him for bringing awareness to depression, Wallace said he did not know it was such a widespread problem; for him, being depressed was an honest answer to a media question.{{cite web |title=277 - Bubba Wallace: The Battle Within |url=https://player.fm/series/the-dale-jr-download-dirty-mo-media/ep-277-bubba-wallace-the-battle-within |website=Player.fm |access-date=March 18, 2020 |date=October 7, 2019}}

On July 23, 2019, Wallace posted photos of Richard Petty autographing his left forearm. He vowed to have Petty's signature tattooed if the photos were retweeted 43,000 times. The goal was made by the morning of July 25.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2019/07/25/bubba-wallace-43000-rts-richard-petty-tattoo |title=43,000 retweets later, Bubba Wallace says 'Let's do it!' for Petty tattoo |first=Sean |last=Montgomery |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=July 25, 2019 |access-date=August 13, 2019}} Less than a month later, Wallace had Petty's signature tattooed on the back of his right thigh.{{cite web |url=https://www.nascar.com/gallery/he-did-it-bubba-wallace-shows-off-his-new-richard-petty-tattoo/ |title=He did it! Bubba Wallace shows off his new Richard Petty tattoo |website=NASCAR.com |publisher=NASCAR Digital Media, LLC. |date=August 12, 2019 |access-date=August 13, 2019}}

Wallace married Amanda Carter on December 31, 2022,{{Cite web |date=March 10, 2023 |title=Who Is Bubba Wallace's Wife Amanda Carter? |url=https://www.usanetwork.com/usa-insider/who-is-bubba-wallace-wife-amanda-carter |website=USA Insider Official Site}} after getting engaged on July 30, 2021.{{Cite web |title=Bubba Wallace Is Engaged! NASCAR Star Proposes to Girlfriend Amanda Carter |url=https://people.com/sports/bubba-wallace-engaged-amanda-carter/ |website=Peoplemag}} The couple has a son together.{{cite web |date=October 19, 2024 |title=From NASCAR's Fast Lanes To Baby Bottles: Bubba Wallace's New Chapter |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/gregengle/2024/10/19/from-nascars-fast-lanes-to-baby-bottles-bubba-wallaces-new-chapter/ |access-date=October 18, 2024 |work=Forbes}}

Wallace is a Christian. In an interview with Esquire in 2020, Wallace clarified that his criticism of Michael McDowell after an incident at that year's All-Star Race was not meant as an attack on McDowell's Christian faith as some had perceived. "A lot of people took that as attacking his faith and it definitely wasn't that. I have nothing against that. I'm a Christian myself. When you go disrespectful, then that shows the character that you are. That's what I was getting at."{{cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/sports/a34210910/bubba-wallace-profile-return-to-talladega/|title=Bubba Wallace is NASCAR's Future and the Future is Now|last=Kirkland|first=Justin|work=Esquire|date=October 4, 2020|access-date=October 10, 2020}} Wallace's wrecked front bumper from the incident was put up for auction and raised $20,034 for the Christian non-profit organization Motor Racing Outreach.{{cite web|url=https://nascar.nbcsports.com/2020/07/27/bubba-wallace-michael-mcdowell-nascar-all-star-race-bumper/|title=Bubba Wallace All-Star bumper raises $20,034 for charity|last=McFadin|first=Daniel|publisher=NBC Sports|date=July 27, 2020|access-date=October 10, 2020}}

In 2017, Wallace voiced the character Bubba Wheelhouse in the 2017 Pixar film Cars 3.{{cite web|last=Pockrass|first=Bob|url=http://www.espn.com/racing/nascar/story/_/id/18748819/twelve-nascar-personalities-featured-cars-3|title='Cars 3,' slated for summer release, to feature 12 NASCAR personalities|publisher=ESPN|date=February 23, 2017|access-date=February 23, 2017}}

Leading up to the 2018 Daytona 500, he starred in the Facebook Watch series Behind the Wall: Bubba Wallace.{{cite web|last1=Spangler|first1=Todd|title=NASCAR's Bubba Wallace Docu-Series Coming to Facebook Watch|url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/nascar-bubba-wallace-facebook-docu-series-1202696692/|website=Variety|access-date=March 22, 2018|date=February 13, 2018}}

Wallace and 23XI co-owner Denny Hamlin appear in the music video for Post Malone's 2021 song "Motley Crew".{{cite news|last=Curtis|first=Charles|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2021/07/post-malone-motley-crew-video-nascar-hamlin-bubba-wallace|title=Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin star in a NASCAR-themed Post Malone video for 'Motley Crew'|newspaper=USA Today|date=July 9, 2021|access-date=July 13, 2021}}

In 2021, Wallace participated virtually in the 2021 Pro Bowl after the event was cancelled and hosted on Madden NFL 21.{{Cite web |date=2021-01-26 |title=NASCAR: Bubba Wallace to compete in the NFL Pro Bowl |url=https://beyondtheflag.com/2021/01/26/nascar-bubba-wallace-compete-nfl-pro-bowl/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Beyond the Flag |language=en-US}}

In 2022, he was the subject of the Netflix docu-series Race: Bubba Wallace. The six-episode series follows Wallace's career during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, including his off-track life and activism.{{cite news|url=https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2022/02/22/netflix-docuseries-race-starring-bubba-wallace-launches-worldwide-get-a-sneak-preview/|title=Netflix docuseries 'Race' starring Bubba Wallace launches worldwide; get a sneak preview|publisher=NASCAR|date=February 22, 2022|access-date=February 26, 2022}}

^† As Wallace was a guest driver, he was ineligible for championship points.

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

{{sup|*}} Season still in progress

{{sup|1}} Ineligible for series points

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

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{{Commons category|Bubba Wallace|nowrap=yes}}

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Category:1993 births

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