Bubba Wallace Opens up About the Beginning of His Love Affair With Racing

Bubba Wallace undoubtedly has a stature that is unmatchable. His journey to the top position in racing is the culmination of passion, perseverance, and an undying love for the sport. Like most of the stories, the tale begins with a young boy, a race car, and a dream.

Wallace’s love affair with racing commenced at a very young age. His first race was a national event with over 400 cars and was full of excitement, anxiousness, and, of course, devotion. It was a day that would set a path for his future, a day that would light up a passion so strong it would become his life’s calling. 

For Bubba Wallace, his words on the race started it all for him, as did the setbacks he faced

The first race that the 30-year-old participated in was a national event with more than 400 cars. This was indeed a huge stage for a young racer. He recalls the moment strongly and says, “I know my first race was a national event 300 400 plus cards total I remember spinning, and the last thing I saw was uh an old uh Chevy Suburban sitting there, and all I thought I was gonna do was cream the Suburban right, but I came very, very soft stop it was the catch fence that I did not see.”

He continued, “That’s all I remember from my first race, but I did ask my dad if we could fix it and get back out there. The front bumper bar Nerf bars were all bent up, and it was pretty mangled, but when I asked if we could fix it and get back out, he knew like, All right, I guess we’ll show back up next week. I guess that’s where love came from.”

This crashing incident was initially a setback, but Wallace’s spirit remained unbroken, and thus this became a crucial moment in his racing journey.

READ MORE: 2023 is Bubba Wallace’s Best Season Till Date, and Here’s Why

Bubba Wallace began racing in the Bandolero and Legend Car racing series. Before turning 10, he also drove in local late-model events. In 2005, Wallace won 35 out of the 48 Bandolero Series races held. He also evolved as the youngest motorist to prevail in Virginia.

A household name and a champion in the Making 

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Bubba Wallace’s onward and upward journey was not a cakewalk; it was marked by various triumphs and challenges, but nothing stopped him from becoming who he is today. He began racing in NASCAR K&N, joined Rev Racing in 2010, and later joined JGR. With whom he won his very first race in the series, at Greenville-Pickens Speedway.

Some popular NASCAR racetracks like Richmond Raceway and Dover International have seen the 23XI driver finishing at the pole. With over 12+ years of motorsports career, he became the 2nd Black driver to win in the Cup Series with his victory at Talladega Superspeedway in the 2021 fall race — the first of his career and first for newly-formed 23XI Racing.

WATCH THIS STORY: Bubba Wallace Insider Urges NASCAR to Respond to Ryan Blaney’s Plea for Help

Not alone a champion in making but he is a philanthropist who founded and runs the Live to be Different Foundation. Therefore, it can be said that Bubba Wallace, who is now a household name in the motorsports world, hasn’t had it easy. But his determination towards the sport from a very young age helped him earn the position he holds today.