Bubba Wallace Wins First Daytona Race, Celebrates with Newborn Son/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Bubba Wallace secured his first-ever win at Daytona International Speedway on Thursday, claiming victory in the first Duel qualifying race ahead of the Daytona 500. The 31-year-old driver for 23XI Racing celebrated with his newborn son, Becks Hayden Wallace, marking a special moment in his career. Wallace, who has been open about his mental health struggles, says fatherhood has brought a new perspective to his life and career. With this win, Wallace is now a top contender heading into Sunday’s Daytona 500, where he will start third on the grid.
Bubba Wallace Wins First Daytona Race, Celebrates with Newborn Son
Key Highlights:
- Wallace wins first Daytona race in the Duel qualifying event, securing a third-place starting position for the Daytona 500.
- Emotional victory celebration with his 4-month-old son, Becks, in Victory Lane.
- Wallace credits fatherhood for giving him a new perspective and helping him “walk lighter”.
- 23XI Racing’s Toyota dominance continues, with Chase Briscoe on pole position and Wallace showing strong speed.
- Wallace has finished second twice in the Daytona 500 (2018, 2022) and is now a top contender for Sunday’s race.
- Victory gives Wallace momentum, as he aims to become the first Black driver to win the Daytona 500.
- Wallace brushes off Trump controversy, saying he’s “here to race, not for the show”.
- Daytona 500 takes place Sunday, with Wallace starting third behind Briscoe and Cindric.
Looking Ahead to the Daytona 500:
- Wallace has 12 top-15 finishes in 15 starts at Daytona.
- 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, looks strong heading into the big race.
- Wallace says he’s focused on perfection, believing his team is ready to compete for the win.
- If Wallace wins, he would make history as the first Black driver to win the Daytona 500.
This Duel victory could be the stepping stone Wallace needs to finally break through and win “The Great American Race” on Sunday.
Bubba Wallace Wins First Daytona Race, Celebrates with Newborn Son
Wallace Breaks Through with Daytona Duel Win
Bubba Wallace finally conquered Daytona, winning his first race at the track in Thursday night’s Duel qualifying event. The victory secures Wallace a third-place starting position in the upcoming Daytona 500, behind pole-sitter Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric.
“Man, what a night,” Wallace said. “I’ve wanted one of these Duel wins for so long.”
The win continues Toyota’s dominance at Daytona, with Briscoe also securing pole position in his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
A Special Celebration with His Son
Wallace made the moment even sweeter by celebrating in Victory Lane with his 4-month-old son, Becks, and his wife, Amanda. The emotional driver, who had previously finished second twice in the Daytona 500, was seen hoisting his son high in the air, reminiscent of a scene from The Lion King.
“It is the coolest thing having a kid,” Wallace said. “You never know if you’re ready. I regret not having one earlier. He’s brought so much joy and new perspective. I feel like I’m walking lighter because of him.”
Dressed in a checkered-flag bib and noise-canceling headphones, baby Becks was part of a celebration that saw Wallace spray Coke on his crew and hug 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin.
Wallace’s Road to Daytona Success
Despite his strong performances at superspeedways, Wallace had never won at Daytona before Thursday. He has finished second in the Daytona 500 twice (2018, 2022) and has been consistently competitive at the track, with 12 top-15 finishes in 15 starts.
“I felt like every time I’ve strapped into a race car at Daytona 500, I’ve been able to win,” Wallace said. “Things just haven’t worked out like that.”
“I think you’ve got to crawl before you can walk,” he said. “Maybe this Duel win is us crawling. Now we can put ourselves in a little bit better spot.”
A New Mindset for Wallace
Wallace has been candid about his battles with mental health, but fatherhood has given him a newfound sense of balance.
“I’ve talked a lot about enjoying the little things,” he said. “That’s my mindset this year, and tonight was one of those moments.”
Addressing the Trump Controversy
Amid his on-track success, Wallace was asked about the possibility of President Donald Trump attending the Daytona 500.
“We’re here to race, not for the show,” Wallace said.
The question stems from a controversy in 2020, when Trump accused Wallace of perpetrating a “hoax” after a crew member found a noose in Wallace’s garage stall at Talladega Superspeedway. An FBI investigation later determined the noose had been there since October 2019 and was used as a garage door pull rope.
Wallace has since moved past the incident and remains focused on winning the Daytona 500.
“Tired of talking about it,” Wallace said. “I’m here to win races.”
Looking Ahead to Sunday’s Daytona 500
With momentum on his side, Wallace is now one of the top contenders heading into Sunday’s Daytona 500.
“We’ve done just about everything right at Daytona,” Wallace said. “But just about everything isn’t good enough to win the 500. It’s got to be perfect.”
Wallace will take the green flag from third position, hoping to become the first Black driver to win the Daytona 500.
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