William Darrell "Bubba" Wallace Jr. was born on October 8, 1993, and is a renowned American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, skillfully navigating the No. 23 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing.
Prior to his current stint, Wallace was part of Toyota's driver development program, where he honed his skills by driving part-time for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Xfinity Series and full-time for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the Camping World Truck Series. He later transitioned to Ford and their driver development program, competing full-time for Roush Fenway Racing in the Xfinity Series.
Wallace's impressive career also saw him compete in select Cup Series races for Richard Petty Motorsports, driving the iconic No. 43 car as an injury replacement for Aric Almirola. He eventually became the full-time driver for RPM in the same car when Almirola left the team, marking his first full-time ride in the Cup Series.
Throughout his career, Wallace has made history as the only full-time African American driver in NASCAR's three national series (Cup, Xfinity, and Truck) each year he has competed. Moreover, he is the only African American driver to have won more than once in any of these series, solidifying his position as one of the most successful African American drivers in NASCAR's history.
Wallace's impact extends beyond the racing track, as he has been a vocal advocate for racial justice and equality. In June 2020, he used his platform to speak out against systemic racism and police brutality, following the murder of George Floyd and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests. His activism played a significant role in NASCAR's decision to ban the display of the Confederate flag at their tracks, marking a significant shift in the organization's stance on racial justice.
