Bubba Wallace has a longstanding relationship with the US Air Force. The two have been associated since his Richard Petty Motorsports days, with Wallace’s No. 43 Chevy donning the USAF colors inspired by the P-40 Warhawk back in the day. Earlier this season, the 23XI Racing driver unveiled a paint scheme inspired by the Flying Tigers that flew during World War II from 1941 to 1942, which featured intimidating teeth in the front of his No. 23 Toyota.

This time around, Bubba Wallace took his collaboration with the USAF even further. He took part in combat training and uploaded clips from his experience on his Instagram page, prompting some interesting reactions from fans.

Wallace’s relationship with the USAF

When Bubba Wallace moved to 23XI Racing before the 2021 season, his sponsor United States Air Force did not follow. Instead, they remained at Richard Petty Motorsports, opting to partner with Erik Jones for three seasons. However, the start of the 2024 season presented a new opportunity, one which the USAF didn’t miss out on. They reached a sponsorship agreement with 23XI Racing and joined forces with Wallace again.

The Alabama native has engaged in plenty of memorable experiences with the Air Force over the years. He has flown in a fighter jet on three separate occasions, jumped out of airplanes, and went to the Air Force Academy in Colorado in 2019. This time around, Bubba Wallace had the opportunity to participate in combat training with the US Air Force. The 30-year-old appeared to have the time of his life as he engaged in playful fighting with a baton. Wallace was heard saying, “You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used” while subduing his opponent.

Bubba Wallace also went on to upload a picture on Instagram in front of the NC Air National Guard hanger, while being surrounded by air force personnel and their vehicles. He captioned the post, “Pretty bada** Thursday afternoon”, prompting plenty of reactions.

Earlier this year, Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota featured a special theme during the race at Dover International Speedway, featuring the names of four Vietnam War veterans. This was part of a collaboration with Xfinity, another one of Wallace’s sponsors, who were featuring veterans in a new ad.

As part of the USAF’s sponsorship with Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan’s co-owned team, 23XI Racing will host airmen throughout the 2024 Cup Series season. The goal of this partnership is not just to highlight the entertainment value NASCAR provides but also to spread awareness about how the roles and careers in the Air Force correspond to the world of motorsports and 23XI Racing. The US Air Force has also been a primary sponsor of NASCAR since 2001, and they will continue their streak in the ongoing season, which will be the 24th consecutive one.

Fans react to Bubba Wallace’s latest adventure

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With Wallace’s combat training video making waves on social media, fans were quick to share their views about the 30-year-old’s latest escapade. With the controversial events at Richmond Raceway being fresh in the memory of fans, it wasn’t surprising to see an Instagram user suggesting, “Honestly, this is how NASCAR should start handing out penalties.” Watching Bubba Wallace subdue his opponent during combat training, one fan was optimistic that the 23XI Racing driver would face no problems at Michigan International Speedway. The fan wrote, “I think everyone’s gonna race Bubba pretty clean this week😂”

Remembering how Austin Dillon dumped Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin on his way to a maiden victory at the Federated Auto Parts 400, one fan went on to say, “Bubba training for his eventual run-in with Austin Dillon.” With Wallace just three points above the playoff cutline, and aiming to make it to the postseason through points, a fan encouraged the 23XI Racing driver to show some of that fighting spirit in the remaining three races. Writing on Instagram, a fan advised, “Take that approach to making these playoffs!! 😂”

Bubba Wallace has always had a complicated dynamic with fans. The 30-year-old came under immense backlash recently after door-slamming Alex Bowman during the cool-down lap in Chicago. He may not be a fan favorite, but the driver has let his performances speak for themselves in an attempt to win hearts. A fan commented under Wallace’s video, “2 years ago this would’ve been a hate comment. but now I love bubba. bro has shown out at the cup level the last 2 years. is he a playoff lock? no, but he is making one hell of a run.”

Do you think Bubba Wallace will make it to the playoffs? Let us know in the comments!