Darrell “Bubba” Wallace has recently made more headlines than ever in the first decade of his racing career. As the only full-time black NASCAR driver, Wallace was always different from his competitors. Still, without any wins on the NASCAR Cup circuit, his coverage generally started and ended with that. All of that changed when Wallace challenged NASCAR’s marriage to the Confederate flag, and there was an avalanche of good guys and bad guys. Fortunately, Wallace has someone on his side to help him get through this.
Wallace’s career
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Wallace has been competing on various NASCAR circuits since he was just 16 years old. Immediately, he was different thanks to the color of his skin, but he showed that he was as capable as the other drivers, since he constantly ended near the beginning of the herd. Wallace is not a new Richard Petty or Dale Earnhardt, but a black man who even makes it to NASCAR is in the news.
As Wallace’s career progressed, so did his focus. He went through several different NASCAR divisions, from driving trucks to the Xfinity series, but in 2017, he achieved the final goal of the NASCAR Cup. Since then, he has been trying not only to prove that he is good enough to be there, but also to demonstrate that he can win.
A victory, so far, has eluded Wallace in his young career. He has finished in the top five twice and in the top 10 six times, but has only led a total of 24 laps so far. Still, his ability to run with the herd is being noticed by a younger generation of NASCAR fans, some of whom are black. That alone is enough to excite them. What Wallace did recently off the track, however, is something special.
Wallace’s booth
Wallace made waves in early June when he successfully convinced NASCAR to ban Confederate flags at races across the country. In races both in the southern states and abroad, Confederate flags became a staple for those seeking to show their southern pride. However, for blacks like Wallace, that flag represents a group that tried to fight the freedom of people like him.
Several NASCAR drivers expressed their support, and before a race, they all marched in solidarity with Wallace. However, the story took an ugly turn when a rope tied like a tie was found in his garage. The rope was discovered by NASCAR officials, who immediately called the FBI on the matter. The FBI found that the rope had been there since 2019, although the reason that rope was tied in that way at Wallace’s post remains unknown.
While some viewed this as a dog’s whistle, a rope found in a black man’s garage should stop anyone. Wallace discussed this situation with Fox News. “You see what is happening outside of sport and the way we react to it, the way it caught my eye, I thought it was done the right way,” Wallace told the channel. “[Could we have] differently worded? Sure, but you can’t let that slip away and say “ah, it could be a mistake.” I encourage you to do the same thing over and over again. “
The situation is still unfolding, but Wallace has never been greater. Fortunately, he has a supportive woman by his side as he goes through all of this.
Is Bubba Wallace married?
Bubba Wallace is not married, but his girlfriend, Amanda Carter, visited Instagram to support her boyfriend as he goes through this media storm. Carter posted words of support for her boyfriend. She pleaded with people to take race relations seriously, educate themselves, and not use their situation as a one-time incident. She closed the statement with gratitude to everyone who helped.
“Thanks to those who have been working toward a better future, whether privately or publicly, these waves will bring change,” Carter wrote. “Also, thanks to all my friends, family and of course the Darrel fans who have contacted his support. I share his messages with him and he appreciates it too.”
The situation is still ongoing, but Wallace knows he has someone who is going to hit him while others try to exploit his position. NASCAR has a long way to go until they can be called diverse. Hopefully, with people like Carter and Wallace, that growth can continue until diversity becomes a reality.
