via Imago
Bubba Wallace
via Imago
Bubba Wallace
There’s something about the #45 and Kansas because after Kurt Busch took the checkered flag earlier this year at the track, it was his teammate Bubba Wallace who won the recent playoff race there. The 23XI Racing driver held off the advances of his boss Denny Hamlin and won the second Cup Series race of his career.
In doing so, Wallace also became the first black driver to have won two races at NASCAR’s top level.
He had matched Wendell Scott’s single win when he won the race at Talladega last year, and with his result in Kansas on Sunday, Wallace surpassed him.
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Of course, you’d imagine he was asked about this in the post-race interview, which was the case. However, this was something that NASCAR fans didn’t particularly like as they expressed their distaste for the question pretty clearly.
Tiger Woods was never asked this question in any of his pressers. Why..because golf doesn’t make race an issue
— #LetsGoPlaces (@NascarChick81) September 12, 2022
Seriously, what difference does his color make?? He’s no different than any other kid whose dad takes him to the track. But since you thinks it’s so important, his dad is 100% white. I give Bubba credit for ignoring your race baiting though.
— Even More MAGA Gap 🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸 (@cathypro2) September 12, 2022
His race, color, and creed shouldn't have anything to do with winning. Leave that out of it. That's ALL people think with EVERYONE, in EVERY job anymore. 🤬. He's a multi race winner. Yes, MULTIPLE race winner. Geez.
— Dana (@THFan991) September 12, 2022
I understand the question but it’s 2022, pretty much anything he does, he will be the first African American to do in NASCAR. To me, asking him things like this are kind of played out and not needed at this point.
— Sh3vron (@DJSh3vy) September 12, 2022
Dude just cares about winning, he doesn’t give a damn what history it is
— Dank Nascar Memes (@dank_nascar) September 12, 2022
Sadly pathetic that a NASCAR driver has to be identified by his/her race or ethnicity. Hyperbolic nonsense.
— Jeffrey Langdon (@jlangdon) September 12, 2022
WATCH THIS STORY: Bubba Wallace contemplates calling Daniel Ricciardo for sensational F1-NASCAR swap amidst ongoing Project91
How does Bubba Wallace feel about holding a special place in NASCAR’s history books?
“It’s incredible,” Bubba Wallace replied after he was asked about his thoughts on being the only black driver with two Cup wins in the history of the sport. He then went on to describe how his racing journey, which started 20 years ago, was at first all about “just showing up to races.”
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Wallace further revealed how this detail reminds him of a conversation he had with Kevin Harvick about taking his son Keelan to his first asphalt Legend Cars race, something “eye-opening” for the 23XI Racing driver.
via Getty
FONTANA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 27: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Wheaties Toyota, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Wise Power 400 at Auto Club Speedway on February 27, 2022 in Fontana, California. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
In the end, Bubba Wallace emphasized that it’s not about making records or creating history, but simply being competitive and having that desire to win. “You just want to show up and win,” he said.
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“Whatever history comes in after that, it all settles in behind because there’s no greater thing than winning.”
