Bubba Wallace brought holiday cheer to his 23XI Racing teammates with festive gifts, but delivered a mischievous surprise to co-owner Denny Hamlin during a Christmas celebration at the team’s shop in Huntersville, North Carolina. The Bubba Wallace Christmas NASCAR prank poked fun at Hamlin’s on-track rivalry, blending humor with team spirit as the Cup Series season wrapped up.
Bubba Wallace Spreads Holiday Cheer—and Coal—at 23XI Racing
In a recent social media highlight, Bubba Wallace played Santa for 23XI Racing, handing out candy canes to teammates including Tyler Reddick and Reily Herbst. At the Airspeed race shop, Wallace left a special treat for Michael Jordon outside his office. However, Denny Hamlin received the most unique gift—an entire box of coal—as Wallace jokingly declared:
‘Denny, you made the naughty list pal. I give you a whole box of coal.’
The playful jab stemmed from a heated moment earlier in the season at Kansas Speedway. There, Hamlin, also a star driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, made contact with Wallace during the final lap, pushing him into the wall and dashing his hopes of advancing to the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 8. The lighthearted Christmas prank served as Wallace’s humorous payback for that incident, brightening the mood among team members.
The team shared the festivities online to spread positivity, writing:
“Happy Holidays from Santa @BubbaWallace and everyone at Airspeed! Hopefully you made the nice list! 😅.”
Wallace and Hamlin Move Beyond Past Tensions
Despite the earlier clash, Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin have since reconciled, holding a calm and honest conversation following their on-track altercation. Their willingness to dialogue demonstrated mutual respect and a commitment to the team’s health, especially after both 23XI Racing Cup teams missed advancing in the playoffs.
“It was a good, heart-to-heart conversation. It came from a place of peace. It went better than I thought it would. He shared his side of things, and I shared mine and we had common ground,” Bubba Wallace said.
A Noteworthy 2025 Season and Personal Growth
As the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season concluded, Bubba Wallace celebrated a string of accomplishments and marked personal milestones. He earned his first Brickyard 400 victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July, ending a long dry spell at that iconic venue. His performance included six top-5 finishes and fourteen top-10s, along with leading a career-best 378 laps. Wallace secured 11th place in the overall standings, showcasing both his skill and determination throughout the year.
“I’d call it a successful season, for sure.” Wallace said, via Racer.
Off the track, Wallace experienced significant life changes as well. In September 2024, he and his wife Amanda Wallace welcomed their first son, Becks Hayden, and announced that they are expecting a second child in March 2026. According to Wallace, the journey into fatherhood offered him greater perspective, helping him better manage stress and remain focused amid the demands of racing.
Looking Ahead: Bubba Wallace’s Story Continues
Bubba Wallace’s unique approach to team bonding—mixing humor, competitiveness, and personal connection—has strengthened the culture at 23XI Racing after an intense NASCAR Cup Series season. As he prepares for the arrival of his second child and gears up for another year of racing, Wallace’s blend of dedication and levity stands out, inspiring his teammates as well as NASCAR fans nationwide.
