Time after time again, we are reminded just how high the stakes are whenever a driver steps in a racecar. Because while in some sports, the stakes go as high as winning or losing a trophy or a paycheck, in motorsports, on top of those two things, there’s the element of serious danger to life that constantly looms over everyone’s heads. Such was the case in the NASCAR Xfinity race at Daytona when Myatt Snider suffered one of the most horrific crashes in recent memory. And fortunately, the 27-year-old walked out unharmed from the beaten skeleton of a car. During the final lap of the race, Snider was in the midfield. And just like everyone else, he also tried making a move to gain a place or two in the closing stages. However, he went out of control and slammed into the wall. Soon after, he went airborne and ripped through and into the fence as the No.31 quickly disintegrated down to its bare chassis with everyone waiting for some activity, some sign from Snider. Luckily, the Xfinity Series driver walked out of his car, as the entire NASCAR community took a big sigh of relief. This crash, which was replayed several times, was one that took place right in front of the 23XI Racing camp which meant not only was the driver lucky to be unharmed but so were Bubba Wallace [https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/bubba-wallace/] and Michael Jordan from the incredible amount of debris that flew all over the place. WHAT WENT THROUGH THE MIND OF MYATT SNIDER DURING HIS CRASH? Myatt Snider, who suffered some injuries on his left leg, recalled what his thoughts were while he was inside the car that flew into the wall, into the fence, and then landed on the asphalt. “I felt a push, and I started feeling the car go right. And, I’m like ‘Crap, I might be along for a ride here,’” Snider said [https://www.si.com/racing/2022/02/20/myatt-snider-flips-goes-airborne-in-last-lap-crash-at-daytona]. “And sure enough, I was. I got turned around to the side, and then I was facing backwards. I started seeing the racetrack, and I’m like, ‘Hmm, this is getting better as it goes.'” “I’m extremely blessed to be as okay as I am.” Also Read: Kyle Larson’s Crew Chief Cliff Daniels on the Hendrick Motorsports ‘Grey Cloud Over My Head’ Ahead of Daytona 500 [https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-kyle-larsons-crew-chief-cliff-daniels-on-the-hendrick-motorsports-grey-cloud-over-my-head-ahead-of-daytona-500/] 

During the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway, driver
Myatt Snider suffered a horrific crash and walked away.

Shaharyar is an F1 & NASCAR writer at EssentiallySports. A graduate in
Journalism from Amity University, he has been a passionate follower of
motorsports for a better part of the decade. A Max Verstappen and Ferrari
supporter, he dreams of a pairing of the two in future. While his favourite
track is Monza, his favourite F1 car is the MP4/4. He enjoys watching soccer
when the engines are off. Along with being an author, he is also a filmmaker who
believes in the power of storytelling and taking a walk.

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<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>What is the Daytona 500?</strong></h2>
For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial "birthplace of speed", Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/category/nascar/nascar-cup-series/">NASCAR Cup Series</a> schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races.

[caption id="attachment_1627382" align="alignnone" width="1"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-1627382" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1024835900h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1" height="1" /> Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America - ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Origins of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2632995 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/DoBedrfXoAAjZ5P-1.jpeg" alt="" width="3000" height="2400" />

And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps.

The first-ever Daytona 500, called the <b>1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona</b> back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: 400"><strong>Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™</strong></span></h2>
As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR's crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven't been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl.

The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President's Day weekend in every NASCAR fan's heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President's Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that's definitely a win-win!

While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn't any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure.

One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway.

[caption id="attachment_1948603" align="alignnone" width="1800"]<img class="wp-image-1948603 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago0004296892h.jpg" alt="Daytona 500" width="1800" height="1200" /> Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme - (ZUMAse4)[/caption]
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Highlights of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty's father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-2491357 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/lee-petty.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1262" />

&nbsp;

Lee Petty's son isn't much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/richard-petty/">Richard Petty</a> sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981.

While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn't see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison's car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne.

Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011.

Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when 'Cars of Tomorrow' debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, 'Cars of Tomorrow' simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks.

The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While 'Captain America' famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event's grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter.

In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ <em>"the duels".Â </em>The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels.
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/tag/dale-earnhardt/">Dale Earnhardt</a>'s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. <a href="https://www.essentiallysports.com/nascar-news-nerve-wracking-crashes-that-changed-nascar-forever-edition-five-dale-earnhardt/">The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall</a> after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt's death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today.

[caption id="attachment_2105958" align="alignnone" width="1920"]<img class="wp-image-2105958 size-full" src="https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/imago1029986512h-e1699811493626.jpg" alt="Dale Earnhardt Sr" width="1920" height="1080" /> US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564<br />Image Credits - Imago[/caption]

&nbsp;
<h2 style="text-align: center"><strong>The changes of the name of the Daytona 500</strong></h2>
The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt's passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that's the very name that has stuck around.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Daytona 500

What is the Daytona 500? For any NASCAR fan, the Daytona 500 race holds a special place in their hearts. The most prestigious race in the Cup Series, a win at the revered race bestows limitless repute and honor to its victor. Often referred to as the unofficial &#8220;birthplace of speed&#8221;, Daytona Beach, where the race has been held for over six decades, has a long and storied history. Currently, it features on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as one of the four crown-jewel races and also features the highest winning prize among all Cup races. Daytona International Speedway plays host to the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series for the Daytona 500 in Daytona Beach, FL, USA. Daytona Beach United States of America &#8211; ZUMAc04_ 20230219_zaf_c04_386 Copyright: xWalterxGxArcexSrxActionxSportsxPx Origins of the Daytona 500 While many stories about the origin of Daytona races date back to 1903 when two men challenged each other to a race to decide whose horseless carriage was the fastest, the sturdy stock car race at the iconic location came into being in 1959, courtesy of NASCAR founder Bill France Sr. And on February 22, in front of 41,000 people, the revered race planted its seed to mega-stardom. The inaugural race was the only instance when both hard top and convertible vehicles were allowed to race. Since then, the Daytona 500 has been much-awaited by stock car racing fans every year. And while the Daytona Beach, Florida location is already iconic, the track that hosts the Daytona 500 race is just as well-thought out and executed. Wanting to give fans an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Bill Frances Sr brainstormed alongside engineers to create a track that would have the highest banking, allowing cars to reach topmost speed. And soon the prospect presented itself in the form of a tri-oval with 31 degrees banking at turns and 18 degrees at the start/finish lines. With 2.5 mile in length, today, the race lasts 500 miles/200 laps. The first-ever Daytona 500, called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona back then, saw 59 cars competing.Â The winning purse of the inaugural race had a steep value of $53, 050, out of which Lee Petty took home $19,050 for his victory while the runner-up Beauchamp secured $7,650. Why is the Daytona 500 called â€˜The Great American Raceâ€™ As one of the most iconic spectator sports events in America, the Daytona 500 definitely takes the cake when it comes to being NASCAR&#8217;s crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Throughout history, the event has often been compared to the Super-Bowl, the crown jewel of the NFL. However, many NASCAR enthusiasts haven&#8217;t been too keen about that description and have placed the crown-jewel race way above the Super Bowl. The Daytona 500 has also been synonymous with the President&#8217;s Day weekend in every NASCAR fan&#8217;s heart. From 1968 to 2011, the race was held on President&#8217;s Day weekend every year. However, NASCAR decided to change that in 2012 with news of an NFL schedule revamp doing the rounds. As per reports, NFL was planning to expand its 18-game regular season and as per the new roster, the Super Bowl was to be held on the same day as the Daytona 500. Sensing a dent on viewership numbers, the stock car racing organization move the race. However, as the NFL season-expansion plans failed to reach fruition, the Daytona 500 was moved to its original calendar spot. Now, that&#8217;s definitely a win-win! While the winning purse of the Daytona 500 is already a stuff of legends, sitting atop with the largest return, the trophy being awarded to the victors isn&#8217;t any less prized either. Called the Harley J Earl trophy, the prize has been named after legendary automobile designer, Harley Earl, who was also a close friend of Bill France Sr and a General Motors executive back in the day. Earl is most significantly known for being the Father of the Corvette. He has also been credited for designing the Firebird I prototype. The Daytona 500 race is full of prestige and perks for sure. One other aspect that the race victor gets to experience is their car being showcased at the Daytona 500 experience, for one year in its race-winning condition. For the uninitiated, the Daytona 500 Experience is a museum and gallery situated next to the Daytona International Speedway. Teilnehmerfeld der Daytona 500, v.li.: Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, David Ragan, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Clint Bowyer, Carl Edwards, Brian Vickers und David Stremme &#8211; (ZUMAse4) Highlights of the Daytona 500 The inaugural Daytona 500 race in 1959 was won by Richard Petty&#8217;s father, the legendary Lee Petty. The patriarch of the NASCAR royalty family clinched victory driving a 1959 Oldsmobile for Newton Chappell at the inaugural event outperforming Johnny Beauchamp. Charley Griffith, representing Red Bank, finished P3, while Cotton Owens and Joe Weatherly wrapped up the Top-5 positions. &nbsp; Lee Petty&#8217;s son isn&#8217;t much far behind on the Daytona 500 record book either. With seven wins, Richard Petty sits atop the most-wins list at the venue. What makes his feat even more legendary is the fact that Petty managed to clinch four of those titles in a single decade, in 1971, 1973, 1974 and 1979. The rest of his victories came in 1964, 1966 and 1981. While the initial years of the Daytona 500 didn&#8217;t see much vehicle policing, it soon became apparent that certain rules and restrictions would have to be put in place. One of the biggest instances of a change came in 1988 when former stock car racing driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison&#8217;s car went airborne and hit the catch fence at 200 mph at Talladega in May, the previous year. As a result, restrictor plates were made mandatory in hopes that they would stunt speed, which in turn would stop vehicles from going airborne. Speaking of Bobby Allison, he also became the oldest driver to win the race at 50 years, 2 months and 11 days, in 1988. On the other hand, Trevor Bayne is the youngest Daytona 500 winner. Bayne was 20 years and 1 day old when he won the event in 2011. Another revamp that hit NASCAR and the Daytona 500 was during the 50th anniversary of the Daytona 500 race, when &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; debuted for the first time in the stock car racing circuit. While the name might throw some people off, &#8216;Cars of Tomorrow&#8217; simply entailed that the same roll cage, frame and body would be used in all kinds of race tracks as opposed to how crew members would need to build different cars for different tracks like superspeedways, road courses and short tracks. The Daytona 500, being such a grand event, has often been associated with high-profile names. In a bid to make the event even more exciting, every year, the organizers bring in popular figures to serve as a Grand Marshal. While &#8216;Captain America&#8217; famed Chris Evans graced the event in 2014, Nicholas cage stopped by in 2007. Even former US presidents Donald Trump and George W Busch served as the event&#8217;s grand marshal in 2020 and 2004, respectively. Â Qualifying Format of the Daytona 500 Currently, the Daytona 500 sees 40 cars competing, out of which 36 sports belong to drivers whose teams have their own charters. The rest of the 4 spots, which are referred to as open cars and constitute teams that do not own a charter. In its 65 year history, the Daytona 500 has had many revamps to its qualifying format. From two timed laps, the better of two laps, to the average of two laps, the crown jewel race has explored several avenues to decide its starting grid. However, what stuck and is currently in place is a two-race qualifying. The first race is a single-car qualifying where each driver takes up one lap. The Top 10 drivers from that round advance to the second round where their order in the main event starting grid is determined. The single-car runs decide the front row of the Daytona 500. They also decide the lineup for the qualifying races also referred to asÂ &#8220;the duels&#8221;.Â The starting grid is eventually decided on the basis of the duels. The Black Sunday of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 was perhaps one of Dale Earnhardt&#8216;s greatest achievements. After chasing an elusive win at the track for about two decades of his career, the driver finally succeeded in finish P1 in 1998. However, just three years later, the same race would claim his life. It all happened on February 18, 2001, when the driver was competing in the final lap of the race. The driver slammed head-first into the retaining wall after contact with Ken Schrader and Sterling Marlin. The driver had suffered from a basilar skull fracture and had died instantly upon contact. Earnardt&#8217;s death triggered a wave of safety improvements in stock cars and are seen even today. US PRESSWIRE Sports-Historical Unknown date Daytona Beach, FL, USA: FILE PHOTO NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Winston Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Sr 3 waits in his car in the garage area at the Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Florida UNITED STATES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xUSAxTODAYxSportsx 5145564Image Credits &#8211; Imago &nbsp; The changes of the name of the Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 has seen a plethora of name changes till date. While the first-ever edition of the race was called the 1959 First 500 Mile NASCAR International Sweepstakes at Daytona, the name was changed the very next year to the Inaugural 500 Mile International Sweepstakes. The race, then, went on to be known as the Daytona 500 by STP from 1991 to 1993. On the year of Dale Earnhardt&#8217;s passing in 2001, it was known as the Daytona 500 by Dodge. In 2007, a new name was coined yet again and this time, the race was called Daytona 500 by Toyota. From 1961 to 1990, 1994 to 2000 and from 2002 to 2006, the race was called Daytona 500 and since 2008, that&#8217;s the very name that has stuck around. &nbsp; &nbsp;

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Bubba Wallace

Who is Bubba Wallace? Bubba Wallace may not be one of the most popular drivers in NASCAR today but he is one of the most talented. The 23XI Racing star&#8217;s aggressive and unapologetic attitude doesn&#8217;t sit well with a lot of fans, although he never saw that as an issue. In the past, Bubba was accused of being too aggressive on the track with his moves but looks like he has worked on that aspect of late. His race craft has matured as a result but that hunger to win is still very much intact. Bubba is at the prime of his racing career and it will be interesting to see how that pans out. Bubba Wallaceâ€™s early life The 23XI Racing driver was born on October 8, 1993, in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Concord, North Carolina. He was born to Darrell Wallace Sr and Desiree Wallace and has a sister named Brittany Wallace. He was educated at the Northwest Cabarrus High School. While a lot of drivers today come from racing backgrounds, this was not the case with the driver of the 23XI racing team. His father owns an industrial cleaning company while his mother works as a social worker. Bubba Wallace is the only full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series today who is of African-American descent. Being a motorsports athlete is a taxing job and it&#8217;s not uncommon for drivers to undergo a lot of mental pressure. Things had gotten a bit too much for Bubba Wallace as he admitted to battling depression during his racing career in 2019. Several of his peers came out in his support. After his good friend Ryan Blaney won the Cup in 2023, Wallace was affected yet again. â€œHe called me a couple days later and I was like, â€˜Man, I guess you winning the championship sent me into depression. Like congrats, but I donâ€™t want to see that&#8217;,â€ the 23XI star admitted as per AP. May 22, 2022; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Blaney (12) celebrates in Victory lane with NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) after winning the All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports Bubba Wallace&#8217;s wife and marriage One of the people who has helped Bubba Wallace through the toughest of times is his wife, Amanda Wallace.Â â€œI wake up and my wifeâ€™s there. Sheâ€™s like, â€˜How are you feeling today?â€™ And itâ€™s like, one of those days,â€ Wallace said as per People Magazine. â€œWe keep each other on our toes. We play video games together. So sheâ€™s a massive help,&#8221; the driver added. Amanda Wallace (formerly Carter) met Bubba Wallace for the first time in high school and it was love at first sight for the motorsports athlete. But Amanda perhaps did not feel the same way in the beginning. &#8220;She thought I was nice, but not attractive,&#8221;Â he said as per People.Â &#8220;I just remember seeing her and I was like, &#8216;Wow, she&#8217;s beautiful&#8217;.&#8221; It took them a few years but Bubba and Amanda started dating in 2016 and announced their engagement in 2021. The couple got married one year later on New Year&#8217;s Eve. Wallace&#8217;s best man at the wedding was none other than his good friend and fellow competitor, Ryan Blaney. The couple celebrated their first anniversary recently but they are yet to have any children. KANSAS CITY, KANSAS &#8211; SEPTEMBER 11: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #45 ROOT Insurance Toyota, celebrates with fiance, Amanda Carter and pet dog, Asher in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 11, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Bubba Wallace net worth 2024 Wallace has been a full-time driver in the NASCAR Cup Series for quite a while now, and a successful one at that. So it is no surprise that over the years, he has accumulated a decent amount of wealth. According to several sources, the 23XI Racing star currently boasts a net worth of $4 million. A substantial part of his income also comes from the several brand endorsements and partnerships he is involved in. As per reports, Bubba Wallace currently has sponsorship deals in place with Beats by Dre, Columbia Sportswear, and McDonalds. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA &#8211; OCTOBER 16: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #45 McDonald&#8217;s Toyota, waves to fans as he walks onstage during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) Bubba Wallace&#8217;s career timeline Bubba Wallace&#8217;s introduction to competitive racing came early in his life when he started participating in the Bandolero and Legends car racing series at the young age of nine. And just three years later, in 2005, the driver racked up 35 wins in the 48 races held that year. Since then, Bubba Wallace has had an upward graph in his career which saw him move to the NASCAR K&amp;N Pro Series East in 2010. He was also inducted as a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing as a part of NASCAR&#8217;s Drive for Diversity Program. After clinching multiple wins at Greenville-Pickens Speedway, Lee USA Speedway, Richmond International Speedway, and Dover International Speedway, among others, the driver finally made his Xfinity Series debut for JGR in 2012. In his first season with the team, Bubba Wallace participated in four races and clinched a season-high finishing position of P7 at Iowa Speedway. Shy of a win throughout his Xfinity Series career, Wallace&#8217;s best performance came at D0ver Motor Speedway when he finished P2 in 2016 for Roush Fenway Racing. In 2017, Bubba Wallace made his Cup Series debut for Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM), driving the No.43 Ford, at Pocono Raceway and finished P26. He was substituting for an injured Aric Almirola and went on to participate in four races that season. However, a full-time role wasn&#8217;t too far as, in 2018, after Almirola&#8217;s departure, Bubba Wallace was announced as the new driver for RPM. This was a historic moment as Wallace became the first African-American driver to secure a full-time ride in the Cup Series since Wendell Scott in 1971. Wallace subsequently went on to finish 28th in his first-ever Cup Season with one Top-5 and three Top-10s. His very first race as a full-time driver became his very best of the season as the driver finished P2 at the Daytona 500, just behind Austin Dillon. Bubba Wallace has two wins in his Cup series career so far, with victories at Talladega in 2021 and Kansas in 2022. Wallace might not have won any races in the 2023 Cup season but it was a transformative year for the driver. He made it into the playoffs for the first time and achieved a career-high points finish of 10th. Bubba Wallaceâ€™s partnerships and endorsements Bubba Wallace has made quite a mark in NASCAR and that is evident from his sponsor list with big names like Columbia Sportswear, the United States Air Force, and Dr. Pepper, among others. Columbia Sportswear has backed Wallace since his time with Richard Petty Motorsports and has renewed their partnership again as a primary sponsor for the 2023 season. As for his 2024 sponsorship situation, the driver will be seen reuniting with the United States Air Force, who will adorn his #23 car for select races. â€œItâ€™s really special to once again be partnered with the men and women who make up the United States Air Force. My previous experience with the folks from the Air Force was awesome, and I had the chance to meet a lot of great Airmen who do some amazing things each and every day. Iâ€™m looking forward to welcoming them to 23XI and showing them what weâ€™re all about as we work together to try and accomplish the impossible,&#8221;Â Bubba Wallace said about the partnership. Apart from that, Wallace has a tie-up with Mcdonalds&#8217; which dates back to 2022. The driver also ran a brand-centered paint scheme at Homestead in 2023. What&#8217;s more? Mcdonalds&#8217; also has a Bubba Wallace-inspired meal for customers residing in Chicago and Northwest Indiana! Dr. Pepper has also had a storied history with the driver. It was announced ahead of the 2021 Cup season that Bubba Wallace would be joining 23XI Racing and would be backed by a slew of primary sponsors that included Dr. Pepper, DoorDash, and Root Insurance among others. Bubba Wallaceâ€™s NASCAR career stats Bubba Wallace has competed in 51 races in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series since his debut in 2013 and has clinched six victories so far. Apart from that, Wallace has also reached the Top 10 30 times and the Top 5 16 times, while securing three pole positions. He has had an average finish of 10.4 with 987 laps led. Despite being a regular face in the Cup Series since 2017, Bubba Wallace has had a hard time making it to the playoffs. The driver failed to reach the Top 10 in players&#8217; standings in the first six years in NASCAR&#8217;s top faction. However, 2023 provided a redemption arc to him as the driver reached the Round of 12 following the Bristol Night Race. However, he was later eliminated after his outing at Charlotte Roval where he finished P16. &#8220;We werenâ€™t supposed to be here according to a lot of people, but we proved them wrong and then proved a lot of people in the garage wrong that you canâ€™t really count on the No. 23 at a road course race,&#8221;Â Bubba Wallace had said after his elimination. Bubba Wallace records Bubba Wallace may be yet to win any major NASCAR championship but he has created history in stock car racing. The 23XI Racing driver is the highest-finishing African-American driver in the Daytona 500 (P2 in 2022) and the Brickyard 400 (P3 in 2019). He has also accumulated 6 wins in the Truck Series, making him the first African-American driver to win a race in the competition&#8217;s history. He is also the first Black driver to earn a full-time Cup Series ride since Wendell Scott in 1971. He also became the first Black driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race with his Talladega win in 2021, since Scott in 1963. Bubba Wallace foundation The driver of the #23 Cup Series car is the founder and leader of the Live To Be Different Foundation. The organization was founded in 2017 and its main goal is to assist people achieve their dreams regardless of their age, disabilities, or racial background. According to the foundation&#8217;s website, its mission is also to inspire future generations to be more inclusive than their predecessors. Wallace has also been awarding scholarships to deserving students at the Northwest Cabarrus High School in Concord as part of the foundation. Each year, one male and one female student gets a scholarship worth $5,000. KANSAS CITY, KANSAS &#8211; SEPTEMBER 11: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #45 ROOT Insurance Toyota, walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 11, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) Bubba Wallace controversies Bubba Wallace&#8217;s very nature may be admired by some but it has gotten the 23XI Racing driver into a lot of trouble. One of the most infamous fights he got into was with former Cup Series champion Kyle Larson. At Las Vegas in 2o22, the two drivers got into a physical brawl after an on-track incident. Wallace was seen clutching Larson&#8217;s race suit but the Hendrick Motorsports driver kept his cool until they were separated by officials. The driver of the #23 was suspended for one race by NASCAR as a result and he issued an apology to the parties involved for letting his emotions run a bit too wild. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA &#8211; OCTOBER 16: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #45 McDonald&#8217;s Toyota, confronts Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, after an on-track incident during the NASCAR Cup Series South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 16, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) Wallace has never shied away from speaking his mind and he was one of the most outspoken sportsmen when protests over the murder of George Floyd took the country by storm. When NASCAR decided to ban the confederate flag, Bubba Wallace supported the step. However, just a few days after that, a noose was found in his garage stall at Talladega. Things got a bit messy with the federal authorities as a result and Wallace&#8217;s team at the time, Richard Petty Motorsports was tight-lipped about the matter. Bubba Wallace Netflix documentary Early in 2022, the 23XI Racing star&#8217;s documentary called Race: Bubba WallaceÂ was released. Of course, the documentary delved into the life of the race car driver Wallace, but it also portrayed his activist side. The driver of the #23 was an outspoken sportsperson about the George Floyd murder and that aspect was shown beautifully in the series. It also covered the whole incident with the noose in the garage and provided a lot of insight into what goes on behind the scenes in NASCAR. It has been received fairly well by the audience with an IMDb rating of 6.6 and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 59%. The docu-series got Bubba Wallace put Bubba Wallace in a different kind of race outside the track as it was nominated and then eventually won a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary Series(serialized) in 2023. KANSAS CITY, KANSAS &#8211; SEPTEMBER 11: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #45 ROOT Insurance Toyota, vl the NASCAR Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on September 11, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) Bubba Wallace and Michael Jordan&#8217;s connection When NBA legend Michael Jordan decided to delve into the world of motorsports, 23XI Racing was founded along with Denny Hamlin in 2020. Jordan had been interested in investing in Richard Petty Motorsports, for whom Wallace drove at the time. However, he went ahead with building a new team and signing Bubba Wallace as their first driver on a 3-year deal. After Wallace&#8217;s two impressive wins, the team extended his contract and secured its near future with the outspoken driver. When he first got the opportunity, Wallace was reportedly star-struck, However, he has been quite successful with the team and will hope to win the Cup Series with them someday. LEBANON, TENNESSEE &#8211; JUNE 25: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Root Insurance Toyota, speak with NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan and co-owner of 23XI Racing and his Yvette Prieto during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR Cup Series Ally 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 25, 2022 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) Bubba Wallace in popular media Apart from having his own Netflix Series, Bubba Wallace has frequently appeared in the mainstream media. He voiced the character Bubba Wheelhouse in the 2017 Pixar movie Cars 3. The driver of the #23 was also in a music video along with Denny Hamlin for a Post Malone song called Motley Crew. He is also set to appear in a Netflix series called NASCAR: Full Speed. Bubba Wallace&#8217;s social media Bubba Wallace is quite active on social media, especially on his X and Instagram handles. On the former, he could often be seen engaging in debate with fans and NASCAR insiders.  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BubbaWallace  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bubbawallace/  Twitter https://twitter.com/BubbaWallace    Full Name William Darrell Wallace Jr  Popular Name Bubba Wallace  Birth Place Mobile, Alabama  Birth Date October 8, 1993  Age 30  Height 5&#8217;6&#8243;  Weight 165 lbs  Parents Darrell Wallace Sr, Desiree Wallace  Siblings Brittany Wallace  Nationality American  Ethnicity African-American  Net Worth $4 million  Salary $2.2 million  Relationship/Marital Status Married  Spouse Amanda Wallace (Carter)  Children None  Profession Race car driver  Team 23XI Racing

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