Bubba Wallace Makes a Hopeless Admission Towards People Inexorable to NASCAR’s Evolution

Controversial, polarizing, most-hated—Bubba Wallace has been called it all. Wallace’s on-track antics always end up getting him under the spotlight, for all the wrong reasons. The only full-time African-American driver in NASCAR’s premier series, the 23XI Racing driver has been at the forefront of a lot of polarizing debates. Wallace was also the driving force behind NASCAR’s decision to ban the Confederate flag at its racetracks. While the changes brought about by Wallace have been appreciated by some, he has faced a lot of flac as well. 

Currently in Chicago for NASCAR’s inaugural street course race, Bubba Wallace hosted a free block party on Chicago’s South Side. At the event, he also had a chat with the Chicago Sun-Times. During the course of the interview, the 23XI Racing driver revealed his feelings regarding the fans’ divide on NASCAR’s evolution.

“Continue to march forward”: Bubba Wallace speaks on the fans’ divide

48 hours after Bubba Wallace called for the Confederate flag ban, NASCAR passed a historic decision supporting the ban on 10th June 2020. NASCAR’s decision opened up a battlefield of controversy. On one side, the ban was accepted with open arms, on the other hand, many felt NASCAR was losing its identity, and slammed the organization for folding under pressure from “woke” activists. Not on board with the Confederate flag ban, part-time Truck Series driver Ray Ciccarelli even quit the sport after the 2020 season. 

Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times, Bubba Wallace said, “I’ve always said there’s three types of people: the ones that will accept change, the ones that are on the fence about change, and the ones that will never change. You can never get to the minds of the people that will never change, so we don’t really focus our energy on those people.

“We try to convince the ones that are on the fence about change: ‘This is what can happen. Stick with us, and let’s ride it out to the end.’ And the ones that are OK with living life on the edge and accepting change right away, let’s do it.”

Hopelessly admitting regarding people that are unwilling to accept change, the 23XI driver further added, “Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t like changes that we’re doing as a sport to tap into different demographics and make the sport more welcoming and inclusive, and that’s on them. They have to live with that. For us, we continue to march forward.”

Watch This Story: $6 Million Worth Rapper Headlined Bubba Wallace’s Initiative Steals NASCAR Fandom’s Breath

As Bubba Wallace gears up for the Chicago Street Course, let’s revisit the happenings of June 2020 that propelled Wallace to become the harbinger of change.

“Our sport must do better”: When NASCAR heard Bubba Wallace’s calls

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Following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, Bubba Wallace felt the need to join the BLM movement. Speaking out against the racial injustice dealt to African-Americans, Wallace turned into the face of NASCAR’s #BlackLivesMatter movement. On 8th June 2020, Wallace then called upon NASCAR to ban the display of the Confederate flag. 48 hours later NASCAR announced the ban on the Confederate flag at its racetracks and properties. 

The 2020 Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on 10th June 2020 saw the then Richard Petty Motorsports driver’s #43 car sport an all-black paint scheme with the #BlackLivesMatter logo on the rear quarter panels.

NASCAR’s president, Steve Phelps then made a special announcement over the radio, siding with Bubba Wallace’s #BlackLivesMatter stance. “Our country is in pain, and people are justifiably angry, demanding to be heard. The black community and all people of color have suffered in our country. And it has taken far too long for people to hear their demands for change. Our sport must do better. Our country must do better,” Steve Phelps said.

Read More: “I Got My C**p Together”: Bubba Wallace Reveals His Most Formidable Rival in Candid Self Reflection

Bubba Wallace may be termed the most hated driver in NASCAR by many, but there is no denying his massive impact on a once ‘conservative’ sport.