Family man Bubba Wallace enjoying ‘cool hobby’ of winning in NASCAR

1,050 days. 100 races. 

That is how lengthy it had been since Bubba Wallace’s final NASCAR Cup Collection win earlier than he flew below the checkered flag and received Sunday’s Brickyard 400. 

However these numbers are moot within the wake of Wallace’s third profession win — one which no person can say he did not earn. 

Every little thing gave the impression to be working in opposition to Wallace within the waning moments of Sunday’s race. From a poorly-timed warning with six laps to go, a dwindling gas tank and having among the best drivers on the earth in Kyle Larson as his fundamental challenger, it could’ve been comprehensible if Wallace let the win slip away. 

However he did not. 

Wallace beat Larson on two restarts, saved sufficient gasoline to do a burnout and was in a position to be a part of all of the legends earlier than him which have received at Indy and kissed the bricks. 

Wallace’s feelings had been on full show instantly following the race. Together with his spouse by his aspect and his son in his arms, it was clear that this win was particular. It wasn’t one Wallace was going to take without any consideration. 

All through his profession, Wallace’s feelings have not at all times been the sight of such positivity. There have been moments the place anger, self-doubt, stress and unhappiness have outshone the great. That is simply a part of being an expert race automobile driver in a high-stakes job — however that does not imply it is enjoyable. 

“We’re all human,” Wallace stated in his post-race news conference. “We’re all tremendous arduous on ourselves; you guys know the way arduous I’m on myself. On the similar time, I used to be combating. I am like, ‘f—– proper, we are able to do that.’ It is just like the angel and satan in your shoulder.”

Maybe the largest distinction between the Wallace that was seen on Sunday and the one which existed three years in the past is that the angel overpowered the satan. 

“It wasn’t all destructive,” Wallace stated. “To even have that thought, it is like, ‘Come on, focus.’ That every one went away on the restarts, as a result of it was time to actually focus and get the job carried out.” 

Wallace did get the job carried out. He is now the winner of one among NASCAR’s crown-jewel races, and he is assured a spot within the Cup Collection playoffs. 

However one other massive distinction between the modern-day Wallace and the Wallace of years previous is those that now stand beside him on race day: his spouse, Amanda, and his son, Becks. 

As Wallace identified on the TNT broadcast following his win, he is already received in life. Now, he is received once more as a Cup Collection driver. 

“I am a man with a gorgeous spouse, a gorgeous son, and simply lucky sufficient to be driving race vehicles,” Wallace stated. “Placing household first, that is all that issues. It makes issues simpler. It offers you one thing to deal with to. The racing stuff is form of secondary now. 

“You must undergo a psychological shift to say that. I bear in mind when Amanda and I first began relationship, and I am like, ‘Hey, racing’s all the pieces.’ I knew I made a mistake saying that, and it took me all these years to appreciate, this is not at all times going to be right here. I believe it is higher to benefit from the moments like this. I am having fun with life, I am having fun with being right here on the racetrack. I’ve a extremely cool f—— job. It is not even a job. Cool pastime.”

Whether or not you need to name it a job or a pastime, Wallace has turn out to be fairly good at driving race vehicles and sharing race weekends with these he loves most. 

On the finish of the day, not even the attract of Gasoline Alley can outshine that.