Bubba Wallace, driver for 23XI Racing, provided insight into his mindset and experiences after clinching a spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with a landmark win at the Brickyard 400. Wallace, energized by the achievement, addressed the media at Iowa Speedway ahead of practice, sharing what the playoff lock means for his preparation and the progress of his team in a pivotal season.
Celebrating a Career-Defining Victory with His Team and Family
Just days after securing his first crown jewel victory at the Brickyard 400, Bubba Wallace described how he chose to celebrate in a manner reflecting both maturity and gratitude, focusing on his team and family rather than wild festivities.
“I did not go hard after the win. Getting older and realizing that hangovers suck and also having a kid who doesn’t care if you’re hungover. That made me stop after two beers and just enjoy it. Had the team over and everyone got to celebrate. It was a fun night. The celebration continued at the shop and got to see everyone there. Really, really cool to get the Brickyard 400, their first crown jewel and celebrate it Tuesday with the team all while working. Work never stops. Then just got to relax with the family the rest of the week. Had some stuff to do Wednesday. Just getting back to normal and getting ready to get back going again. I woke up this morning before we got on the plane, it was an early one at 5:30 am, and I was like last weekend is over and here’s and new one. Got to get back to work. That’s just how it evolves, you are used to it. Just cool to finally get it done after almost three years is just a massive weight lifted and be locked in early before the playoffs start so it’s good.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
The Intensity and Relief After the Indianapolis Race
The challenge and emotion of the Brickyard 400 left Wallace drained yet exhilarated, highlighting the physical and mental demands of top-level NASCAR competition and what it took to finally secure the victory.
“That was the heat in the moment, pun intended on heat because it was hot. That was the quickest adrenaline crash I had, as soon as I got off the top of the car I was done. They want to talk to you for hours and hours, so I knew I had to pace myself. It all worked out. It was a long day and went through a lot emotionally those last few laps.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
Approach Changes With Playoff Spot Secured
With Bubba Wallace locked into NASCAR playoffs, the pressure has shifted, providing an opportunity to experiment and refocus, rather than chase every point over the remaining regular season races.
“I could care less what happens this next four weeks. It also gives you a chance to go push yourself and try different things and see if there is any speed related to that. You kind of start out the year that way, but every point matters and Denny (Hamlin, 23XI team owner) has been very adamant about that the last couple of months and put ourselves in this spot. After Chicago, it was unfortunate how that played out. All of it my doing. My wife was very upset with me. I was eye-opening to me, she basically said get your stuff together. I don’t want to see you in the spot you’ve been for so many year. I said I’ll win Indy, there you go. I’ve never been in this spot, we’ll see how practice goes. But if we’re 30th, I don’t care. If we qualify 35th, I don’t care (laughing). We’re locked in. The team might be mad at me, but I’m going to try some weird stuff the next four weeks.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
Experimenting With Race Strategies Before the Playoffs
Wallace acknowledged newfound flexibility in race strategy, now that critical points are no longer on the line every week. He emphasized creative approaches and openness as the team prepares for the postseason.
“It will be interesting to see how it goes. We were sitting in the briefing for this race and I said let’s pit on lap one and do something stupid. Then we’ll be out of tires and not good (laughing). The book is wide open on what we can do. I’m excited to see if anything does change on that front because you do have to call races differently. Sonoma for example, we qualified 25th or something and the cards played out where we had to take stage points every time, but it sets you up for a terrible finish in the end if you can’t pass on a road course.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
Milestones for Drivers of Color and Broader Representation
This season has marked new milestones for drivers of color in motorsport, with Wallace becoming a crown jewel winner, Myles Rowe capturing an Indy NXT victory, and Lavar Scott finishing strong in ARCA. Wallace reflected on the emotions and broader significance of their accomplishments while emphasizing his perspective on his role in NASCAR.
“It’s awesome. Being able to go back and watch the highlights of that win was really, really cool and you could see the emotion. My man seems like he’s an old soul. He seems super laid back, like you have to check a pulse on him and make sure he’s still breathing in victory lane. I wish I had that kind of demeanor at times. That was really cool to see. For me, I’ve always said from the beginning that I show up as a racecar driver first, and let everything else settle in after that. When I crossed the start/finish line that first thing I thought about was finally no more day count since Bubba Wallace’s last win. No more being on the cutline the last race going into Daytona, we’re in the playoffs, we’ve won after so many times I’ve questioned myself if I could do this again. All that was gone in that moment. I didn’t realize that the African-American side until hours later, that’s still incredible. A lot of people try to downplay it and I get it, I’m biracial and I love both sides of who I am. At the end of the day, I’m a racecar driver and enjoy where I am at life and where I am as a person. I had a tweet pinned on my Twitter profile and it caused so much controversy, I’m not surprised in today’s world. It was simply saying you are not going to stop hearing about the black driver. I never lead off with I’m the black driver. No disrespect to you guys, a lot of headlines start off with that. That’s what I was saying. Yes it’s out there every time I do something, just embrace it. You have to enjoy it, but people flip it and says all he cares about is being black, but that’s not what I’m saying. I love my black side and I love my white side. I love how competitive and I’m able to showcase that at the highest level in NASCAR.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
Family Moments and the Weight of Achievement
For Wallace, the Brickyard win was more than just a professional milestone; it was a personal and emotional achievement shared most meaningfully with his family in a special moment captured on track after the race.
“I would say having the family there, the overhead shot of us three together there kissing the bricks was cool. That was really special. The moment would be when my wife walked up and said we did it. That still gets me, because it’s been three years. You guys have no idea what it’s like in my shoes and in my head, but she lives that. She’s there everyday seeing me go through the downs and the out and the self doubt. Waking up and it’s not a good day, I still have those days but not as bad as in the past for sure, but still you have them. That’s what she said after Chicago, you are going to be frustrated and depressed and down because of your own doing, let’s get together. When she walked up and said we did it, she’s right we did.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
Refining Team Performance Before Playoff Races
With a month before the playoffs begin, Wallace set clear intentions to address weaknesses and fine-tune his performance and that of the team, highlighting a hunger for continual improvement and greater postseason success.
“Just exposing our weaknesses. Figure out the areas we need to improve on, we have a month to figure it out. Not a lot of time, but when you have the right people in the right places you know what they are. I can say that the lowest hanging fruit is the driver and getting the most speed and executing the best races. I’m excited to work on that. As soon as the race started, I go back to Indy, I know I had bad runs off the corner on lap 10 and I would just go to the grass and say you’re not passing me on the bottom. You’re just going to have to take the outside and deal with it, I wasn’t going to give up the spot. So you race differently from the start of the race to the end. I told my team right before we started our meeting that if you think fatherhood looks good on me, wait until you see Bubba Wallace locked into the playoffs looks good on me, because it’s going to look good.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
Upcoming Races and Seizing Opportunities
Wallace evaluated the challenge of climbing further in the points standings in the weeks ahead, highlighting the importance of wins over consistency in the current NASCAR playoff system, and his optimism for strong results at tracks like Richmond and Daytona.
“Fifth and eighth are all fine, but when the guys you’re racing are finishing fourth and seventh, you’re not making a dent in anything. The way this format is, you have to win. If it wasn’t for the mistakes at Chicago, throw out Sonoma, there was a couple of bad races where some of it was our doing some of it wasn’t. It put us in a this hole, and then next thing I know I went from five points behind Tyler (Reddick) to 165 points behind Tyler within a matter of a month. That tells you to wake up and figure it out. Watkins Glen and then Richmond, really excited for Richmond. Looking forward to that because we’ve had speed there and we’ve figure something out there the last couple races so it’s been fun to show up there. Then Daytona, you never know what can happen, but it takes a win to make us feel more comfortable and that’s what we want to do. We had a goal at the beginning of the year was to get a win and lock ourselves into the playoffs and we’ve done that. I don’t want to say we are playing with house money now, because I’m not settled and not fine with one win. I think we are a multiple win team and it takes a lot of work and it starts right now.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
Supporting Cast: Reflections on Friendship, Mentors, and Industry Recognition
Throughout his journey, Wallace credited advice from fellow drivers, the steadfast support of his close friends, and meaningful interactions with figures both inside and outside motorsport, including relationships with Ryan Blaney and words of encouragement from motorsports legends and team personnel.
“In such a masculine and competitive sport, friendships kind of get lost. That’s the cool thing about motorsports and us in general. There are six or seven of us who grew up racing together since we were kids. You kind of feel that bond from the get-go because of those moments. Blaney and I live 10 minutes from each other and see each other all the time. He’s there for me and I’m there for him through the good and the bad, you always try to be that shoulder to lean on. I truly appreciate him and what he’s been able to do for me in my career, it’s meant at lot. It’s just cool to have your family here at the track and you know who you can lean on and it can make the bad weekends a little bit easier. You watch him and all the success he’s had here and what he’s been able to do in his career has been super cool. I can easily get jealous and not want to be a part of it, but it’s cool as hell to see where we all came from. The thing that also kept me going was I do look back at those days where we were kids and I used to kick his ass. It’s like, you did it then why can’t you do it now? You kind of keep that as fuel.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
Validation, Public Perception, and Handling the Sport’s Pressures
Despite online commentary and external skepticism about the nature of his Brickyard win, Wallace stood resolute in his belief and need for legitimacy, refusing to be distracted by controversy or debate about how he earned his spoils.
“I don’t care, I got the win. I did not want to end it under rain delay because of the social side of things. I want to go out and fight for this and give it my all, run out of gas, or whatever it is. I told myself that sitting on pit road to just stay ready because we will go back racing. It doesn’t matter what Bubba Wallace does in the world the goalposts will keep moving, and that’s ok. I don’t mind the extra work, but they have no idea how much I’m willing in life and don’t have the time in the day to try to explain it to them so it’s fine.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
High-Profile Support From Michael Jordan, Industry Peers
Wallace described the satisfaction of celebrating with Michael Jordan after the Brickyard win, acknowledging the immense confidence Jordan and Denny Hamlin have placed in him as operators of 23XI Racing. He also noted warm congratulations from notable IndyCar drivers including Simon Pagenaud, Will Power, and Scott Dixon.
“I talked to him in victory lane and then we texted throughout the week a little bit. He’s enjoying it just as much as we are. He’s put a lot into this and it’s cool to see the hard work pay off. I said it last weekend, but he and Denny (Hamlin) see something in me that I don’t necessarily see and they pushed me to continue to fight and work my ass off. It’s days like that where you can celebrate. It’s been cool.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
“The IndyCar guys have. Simon (Pagenaud), Will Power, Scott Dixon. That was really cool to get texts from them. They were really pumped for me. Having those texts and having the relationships with those guys is very special to me. Thanks to Scotty (Dixon) for giving them my number. I appreciate that.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
The Evolving Partnership With Crew Chief Charles Denike
Part of Wallace’s recent progression has been his collaborative dynamic with crew chief Charles Denike, who joined the team after a successful Truck Series stint. The growth and teamwork between the two have contributed to their shared breakthrough at the Cup Series level.
“It’s been really special to have a guy like Charles come in after a very successful Truck career and jump into this role and figure out his way. I remember saying before the season started that it’s on myself and it’s on my engineers J.R. (Houston) and my engineer Andrew (Hardy) who take him under our wing and help him figure it out. It’s a lot of work in this schedule, and every weekend we will be watching a Truck race highlights and I ask him if he missed it, and he’s like nope, I’m happy where I’m at. He’s loving the process and what it takes and I feel like he’s really, really smart and loves all the work that’s on his plate. It’s a lot of work jumping up to the Cup level. It doesn’t matter if it’s Trucks, or Xfinity. Getting to the Cup level takes so much attention to detail and for Charles, that’s him. He’s very analytical with everything and processes things and it’s taught me to look at things differently as well. For all of the work for everyone on our team to see that pay off and come together was really cool. I said that in our Tuesday win toast that there’s nothing like getting your first win. There was maybe 30 people’s first win in the shop. That’s cool. I remember Talladega like it was yesterday and remember going through that and experiencing it. When you play a role in something that is damn near impossible to grab and you finally get it there’s no greater feeling than that. It’s cool to have him on top of the pit box and we’ll see how he reacts this weekend.”
—Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing driver
The Road Forward: Maintaining Momentum and Focus for the Playoffs
With the Brickyard win secured and Bubba Wallace locked into NASCAR playoffs, the focus for both Wallace and 23XI Racing will be on strengthening weaknesses and building consistency through experimental strategies and teamwork. As the Cup Series heads towards high-stakes battles, Wallace’s confidence is bolstered by the support of his team, family, mentors, and the wider racing community. The coming weeks will be decisive as Wallace aims to translate this landmark achievement into a sustained playoff run, elevating both his personal career and the status of the 23XI organization.
