Bubba Wallace Celebrates His First Daytona Win with His Newborn Son and a Fresh Perspective

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bubba Wallace is committed to savoring the small moments this season, and it was evident in his post-race celebration.

“Can I get a Rolex for this one?” Wallace joked, referring to the prize typically awarded to winners of the Rolex 24 at Daytona sports car race.

Behind the wheel of the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, Wallace triumphed in the first of two qualifying races on Thursday for the upcoming Daytona 500, solidifying his status as a strong contender for “The Great American Race.”

“What a night it has been,” Wallace expressed. “I’ve longed for one of these Duel wins for ages.”

With this victory, Wallace will take the green flag from the third position in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, trailing pole-sitter Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric. His win helped Toyota maintain a significant lead early in the event at Daytona International Speedway, where Briscoe secured pole position in his new Joe Gibbs Racing car.

Celebrating his first-ever victory at Daytona, the 31-year-old Wallace sprayed champagne on his crew, embraced Denny Hamlin—his co-owner at 23XI Racing alongside Pro Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan—and joyfully lifted his newborn in the air like “The Lion King.” The baby, donning noise-canceling headphones and a checkered-flag bib, was happily sucking on a pacifier.

Wallace and his wife, Amanda, welcomed their son, Becks Hayden Wallace, in late September. He admitted he was overwhelmed with emotion while walking out onto pit road with his four-month-old son, shedding more tears during the joyful moments spent celebrating with his family.

“Having a child is the most incredible experience,” Wallace shared. “You can never be fully prepared. I wish I had done this sooner. He has filled my life with so much happiness and a fresh outlook. I feel lighter because of him. At just four months old, he has transformed my life.”

Wallace has been candid about his previous struggles with mental health. Competing at Daytona has often been more challenging than rewarding for him, with a record of 0 for 15 in races at Daytona, although he has finished as a runner-up twice in the season-opening 500.

“I’m tired of discussing it,” he joked.

“Every time I’ve settled into a race car for the Daytona 500, I’ve felt I could win; just things haven’t unfolded that way,” Wallace reflected, noting his top 15 placements in 12 of his 15 starts at Daytona. “I genuinely believe that each time I’ve had that mindset. You need to arrive with the ambition and passion to win, while also positioning yourself favorably.”

Wallace almost achieved victory in 2018 and 2022 but fell short both times in the Daytona 500.

“I guess you need to crawl before you can walk,” he assessed. “Coming in second wasn’t quite crawling. Maybe winning the Duel is a step in the right direction. Now we can set ourselves up more effectively.”

“I feel like we’ve made nearly all the right moves. However, just getting close isn’t sufficient to clinch the 500. It has to be flawless, and we must focus on being prepared for that moment come Sunday.”

On the subject of former President Donald Trump potentially attending the Daytona 500, Wallace stated that he “couldn’t care less.” Trump previously accused NASCAR’s only Black full-time driver of perpetuating “ a hoax” after a crew member found a noose in the team’s garage stall five years ago.

In July 2020, Trump suggested that Wallace should apologize after NASCAR rallied in support of the driver following the noose incident at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama. Federal investigations determined that the noose had been there since October and did not constitute a hate crime. NASCAR and the FBI described the rope, which was intended for pulling the garage door down, as a noose.

Wallace chose not to comment extensively on the possibility of Trump returning to the Daytona 500 as the sitting president.

“We’re just here to race,” Wallace stated. “It’s not about the spectacle.”