During his 2019 NASCAR Cup Series season with Richard Petty Motorsports, Bubba Wallace was faced with a unique situation involving the legendary Richard Petty. After Petty, known to fans as “The King,” autographed Wallace’s left arm in June that year, Wallace used social media to ramp up the excitement by stating he would get a tattoo of the signature if his tweet received 43,000 retweets in a single day. The tweet did surpass that figure, though only after 24 hours, making the promise technically fulfilled, but with some ambiguity about the terms.
Wallace expressed reservations about turning the autograph into a large, permanent piece of body art covering his forearm and communicated that he might choose a smaller, less visible location for the tattoo. The situation drew a variety of reactions from NASCAR fans, with some expressing disappointment in his change of heart regarding the tattoo‘s placement and size.
“I’m not getting it on my arm like it was, I’m not that stupid. It’s a beautiful signature in all, but I’m not that heavily invested in having it take up my whole forearm. We’ll get it somewhere small; I don’t know where I’m going to get it,” Bubba Wallace said (via NASCAR.com).
Despite hesitation over the initial agreement, Wallace ultimately honored his word. In August of that same year, tattoo artist London Reese, known for working with fellow driver Ryan Blaney, inked Petty’s signature onto the back of Wallace’s right thigh. This move satisfied the original promise in spirit, if not in precise letter, as Wallace did receive the tattoo, just not where Petty had autographed him.
Bubba Wallace‘s Historic NASCAR Achievements and Petty’s Perspective
Bubba Wallace began his Cup Series journey in the No. 43 car for Richard Petty Motorsports and earned national recognition for his performances. Over the years, Wallace made history, especially at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In July, he secured his first major NASCAR Cup Series win at the Brickyard 400, becoming the event’s first Black winner on the storied 2.5-mile oval, a milestone reminiscent of Wendell Scott‘s trailblazing victory in 1963.
The win also put an end to a 100-race winless streak for Wallace and gave him a much-coveted playoff berth for the first time since 2023. Despite these significant accomplishments, Richard Petty maintained a reserved approach. In response to a fan question during his Full Race Recap podcast, Petty explained his stance on congratulating drivers, reinforcing his belief that winning was an expected outcome for those in the driver’s seat.
“No, I never congratulate anybody, okay? You know, even my drivers and stuff. You put them out there, you expect them to win the race. That’s what you put them out there for.”
Bubba Wallace‘s first Cup Series win did not come while driving Petty’s iconic No. 43 car. It happened in 2021 at Talladega with 23XI Racing, and the victory was significant not only for Wallace but also for NASCAR history, marking the first time a Black driver earned a Cup Series win since Wendell Scott. Wallace’s momentum continued with another win at Kansas Speedway in 2022.
The Lasting Impact of Wallace’s Choices and Achievements
The story of Bubba Wallace’s Richard Petty autograph tattoo captures the tension between fan expectations, athlete promises, and the realities of personal choices. While his initial hesitation drew mixed reactions, Wallace’s eventual follow-through with the tattoo and his trailblazing achievements on the track have secured his place among NASCAR’s most memorable current drivers. For Richard Petty, driver accomplishments remain part of the job, but for fans and the sport itself, Wallace’s journey continues to represent progress and a breaking of long-standing barriers in racing.
