Bubba Wallace captured fans’ attention with touching pre-race photos of his son Becks, just before the highly anticipated Cup Series event in Chicago. The focus on Bubba Wallace adorable moments with son offered a lighter contrast to the tension he faces as he holds on to the last playoff spot for the 23XI Racing team.
In a recent display of their bond, Wallace shared heartwarming pictures featuring himself and his infant son Becks, who was born in September 2024. The images, snapped ahead of the Grant Park 165 street race, revealed a playful and affectionate side of their relationship. These glimpses, widely shared and celebrated by fans, highlighted the important role Becks plays in Wallace’s life both on and off the track.
Wallace has spoken about considering Becks his good luck charm, even going as far as to feature his son’s footprints on his racing headgear. On July 4, Wallace posted a candid scene of father and son napping together. The touching moment was captioned,
“Travel days like father, like son”
—Bubba Wallace, driver, 23XI Racing.
Wallace Strives to Solidify Playoff Standing in Chicago
Heading into the Chicago Street Race, known as the Grant Park 165, Wallace faces immense competition. He currently occupies the 16th and final playoff slot, with only eight races left in the regular season. The margin is slim: Wallace is just 23 points ahead of the cutoff, adding intensity to the pressure of maintaining his qualifying position through the rest of the season.
Having achieved just a single top-ten finish in his past 13 starts on road courses, Wallace knows that the street layout in Chicago will present unique obstacles. The stakes for both his team and himself are particularly high as the playoff battle intensifies.
Bubba Wallace Voices Deep Frustration Over Spotter Safety Issues
Amid preparations for Chicago, Wallace called out critical safety issues involving spotter positioning at recent NASCAR events. He highlighted his concerns following the Mexico City race, where he observed that some spotters were stationed behind visual barriers—such as trees and banners—so severe that effective monitoring of pivotal turns was impossible.
He demanded action from NASCAR, asserting that the current practices undermine driver communication and safety protocols.
“Spotters into a turn one in Mexico, do you know where they were standing? You can’t see anything. So if we want to talk about safety and all this stuff, either say we’re not racing with spotters or get them in a position and make sure the area is safe for them to operate in to give us the safety and the protocols that we need,”
Bubba Wallace said via Frontstretch [5:52 onwards] —Bubba Wallace, driver, 23XI Racing. He further emphasized,
“Sticking them behind trees or behind banners or whatever is at this point where we’re at in the year is completely unacceptable,”
he added. —Bubba Wallace, driver, 23XI Racing.
Unlike oval tracks, where spotters enjoy a clear vantage point, complex street circuits like Chicago and Mexico City create challenging blind spots that standard spotting protocols have failed to address. The difficulties are amplified by multiple turns and shifting sight lines, and Wallace’s comments draw attention to how these conditions can place drivers—including himself and fellow competitors—in jeopardy.
Such issues are notably relevant as the Cup Series visits tracks like Sonoma Raceway and now Chicago, where demands for improved visibility and safer conditions grow more urgent. By voicing these frustrations publicly, Wallace has brought the safety debate to the forefront just as competitors prepare for the critical, pressure-filled street race in downtown Chicago.
The ongoing debate over spotter placement is expected to shape NASCAR’s approach to driver safety at high-profile events. As Wallace and his team prepare for the upcoming challenges, both his heartfelt moments with Becks and his outspoken advocacy on safety ensure he remains a prominent figure—both on the racetrack and in the broader series conversation.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Bubba Wallace ever win a race?
A. On October 26, 2013, Wallace made history by becoming the first Black driver to win a NASCAR national series since 1963, securing victory at the Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 race held at Martinsville Speedway.
Q. Has Bubba Wallace ever won?
A. On October 4, 2021, Wallace achieved his first Cup victory at Talladega when the race was cut short because of rain.
