William Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. (born October 8, 1993) is an American professional stock car racing driver. He competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 23 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin.
Wallace is notably one of the few African American drivers in NASCAR history and has been a prominent advocate for diversity within the sport. He gained national attention in 2020 for his activism promoting racial equality, which contributed to NASCAR’s decision to ban the display of the Confederate flag at its events.
In October 2021, Wallace secured his first NASCAR Cup Series victory at Talladega Superspeedway, becoming the first African American driver to win a Cup Series race since Wendell Scott in 1963.
He followed this with a second career win at Kansas Speedway in September 2022.
Off the track, Wallace and his wife, Amanda, welcomed their first child, Becks Hayden Wallace, in September 2024. Embracing fatherhood, Wallace has expressed joy in this new chapter of his life, noting that each day brings new experiences.
In recent developments, Wallace faced penalties from NASCAR in November 2024 for actions deemed detrimental to stock car racing and race manipulation during an event at Martinsville Speedway. He was fined $100,000 and docked 50 driver points. His team, 23XI Racing, received a matching fine and lost 50 owner points. The team has announced plans to appeal the sanctions.
Despite these challenges, Wallace remains focused on his racing career and continues to be a significant figure in advocating for diversity and inclusion within motorsports.