Bubba Wallace: The birth of his child transformed his NASCAR career

The birth of his son Becks has been the catalyst for Bubba Wallace to find joy in life and racing.

Bubba Wallace: From Frustration to Happiness on the Track

In the world of NASCAR, Bubba Wallace has experienced a remarkable transformation. Gone are the days when frustration and negativity reigned in his motorhome after each race. Now, the arrival of his son, Becks Wallace, has been the main driver of this radical change. Before, Wallace was known for his discomfort and discontent, even breaking objects in moments of anger. His wife, Amanda, used to share his frustration. However, the roles have been reversed. Now it is Amanda who is more affected by the results of the races, while Bubba has found a new perspective.

“Now I get back on the bus and Amanda is more upset than I am. It’s hard to manage because over the years she knows this is what we have and I have to make this work… Now I’m walking back, like after Kansas, and I was fine, and she’s beside herself. It’s kind of funny,” Wallace commented.

Bubba Wallace

In the Kansas race, Wallace was leading on the final lap when a move by his teammate Denny Hamlin sent him into the wall. Despite the disappointment, Wallace has learned to handle situations with professionalism and grace, a significant change from his previous behavior. The birth of Becks in late September 2024, was the big change. His spotter and long-time friend, Freddie Kraft, has noticed a big difference in his mood.

“Now it seems like the highs are even higher and the lows are never as low as they used to be. We talk after the race and, a lot of times in the past, if we had a really bad day, I’d get one-word answers or no answer until the next day. Now I can text him and we’re joking around afterwards, and I think it’s strictly because he gets back on the bus and sees Becks, or he’s on the phone with Becks before we get on the plane. That kid has done a lot for him that it’s an incredible change for Bubba,” Kraft said.

Freddie Kraft

Wallace has found a new source of joy and perspective in fatherhood. Now, bad days on the track are easier to handle, as Becks is unaware of what’s happening and doesn’t worry about it. Throughout his career, Wallace allowed what happened in races to consume him, affecting his attitude on and off the track. He has spoken openly about his mental health struggles, including depression, although he has never been officially diagnosed.

Statistically, Bubba Wallace is on track for his best season, achieving a victory in Indianapolis and ranking 10th in the 2025 playoff standings. Wallace has learned to separate his personal life from his professional life, which has helped him not to let a bad result affect him excessively. He has made the decision to reduce his activity on social media and has begun to focus on the present. The frustration he felt at the wheel led him to make mistakes, but now he has found greater confidence in himself and his team. His crew chief, Charles Denike, has played an important role in improving his mindset. Denny Hamlin has also praised Wallace’s maturity and progress. With three races remaining in the season, Wallace is in 10th place in the standings and could be on track for his best season in the Cup Series. Wallace has backed up a social media post he made in January, sharing that “the mindset is at its highest” and that he “couldn’t be happier” after taking responsibility for being better and doing better after two seasons of “getting beat up.” Success on the track has also contributed to improving his attitude off it. Wallace enjoys the opportunity to compete and the chemistry that currently exists within his team. “I’ve enjoyed where I’ve been in life,” Wallace said. “I’m more eager to wake up and compete than I have been, and it’s been fun to be on the circuit. There’s no other way to say it. It’s all because I enjoy all aspects of life.”