Bubba Wallace: The birth of his son 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 joy, a radical change

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 races. Today, the arrival of his son, Becks, has been the main driver of this change, allowing him to enjoy life and racing more. Before, Wallace used to be the one suffering in his motorhome. The tension and stress were so intense that they often ended with broken glasses and his wife, Amanda, feeling equally bad. However, the roles have been reversed.

Now, when I get to the bus, Amanda is more upset than I am. It’s hard to deal with that because over the years she has known that this is what we have and I have to make it work… Now I come back, like after Kansas, and I’m fine, and she’s heartbroken. It’s kind of funny.

Bubba Wallace

The race at Kansas Speedway on September 28th was a clear example. Wallace was leading on the last lap when his team owner, Denny Hamlin, made a move that sent him into the wall. Neither of them won the race, and Chase Elliott took the victory. Wallace, who would have advanced in the Cup Series playoffs if he had won, was eliminated the following week. Despite the disappointment, Wallace handled his post-race obligations with professionalism and grace. Amanda’s reaction, on the other hand, reflected how her husband felt not long ago, when he admitted he would have said something inappropriate. The key to this transformation is Becks Wallace, his son, born at the end of September 2024. Fatherhood has changed Wallace, giving him a new perspective and joy. Now, the ups and downs of racing don’t affect him as much, as he knows that when he returns home, Becks doesn’t care about what happened on the track. The arrival of Becks has allowed Wallace to enjoy each moment more. Fatherhood has taught him to prioritize and not let what happens on the court consume his life. During his career, Wallace allowed what happened on Sundays to affect him for the rest of the week, which affected his attitude both on and off the track. However, he has now learned to control his emotions and separate his personal life from his professional life.

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 publicly shared his past struggles, including depression. However, much of his personal growth has been self-directed. The decision to reduce social media use and the ability to compartmentalize have been crucial for Wallace on the track. He has learned not to let a bad day ruin everything else. Wallace’s maturity has impressed his team, including Denny Hamlin, who has noticed a notable transformation. Wallace’s team, 23XI, has shown great performance, and Wallace has become a consistent competitor. 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. Success on the track has contributed to improving his attitude off it. Wallace enjoys the opportunity to compete each week and feels motivated to succeed. This new perspective allows him to move with greater freedom, reduce stress, and take full responsibility for his performance. Bubba Wallace has found joy in life and racing, and this is reflected in his performance and attitude.