Bubba Wallace Makes History with Brickyard 400 Victory

• Jul 28, 2025

Bubba Wallace made history on Sunday by becoming the first Black driver to win on the iconic 2.5-mile oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Wallace claimed victory in the Brickyard 400 after surviving a rain delay, two overtimes, pressure from Kyle Larson, and concerns about fuel. The win marked the third NASCAR Cup Series victory of his career, ending a 100-race winless streak that dated back to 2022 in Kansas. His first Cup win came at Talladega in 2021.

This latest triumph is Wallace’s biggest so far, as it was his first win in one of NASCAR’s four crown jewel races. As he crossed the finish line, Wallace shouted “Unbelievable!” on his radio, overwhelmed with emotion. After stopping his car, he greeted his wife, Amanda Carter, and their 10-month-old son, Beckett. He kissed his wife and lifted his son into the air in celebration.

Wallace has spoken openly about how fatherhood has shifted his priorities. In an interview with CBS Mornings earlier this year, he said being a great father and husband now means more to him than racing. “It took having a kid to realize there's so much more to life,” he said.

The final margin between Wallace and Larson was just 0.222 seconds. Larson had narrowed a 5-second gap with 14 laps to go before rain brought out the yellow flag. During the 20-minute pause, Wallace and his team worked through their restart strategy.

When the race resumed, Wallace held off Larson again—this time during a second overtime triggered by a crash behind the leaders. Despite fears his car would run out of fuel, Wallace stayed on track and beat the defending champion in the final restart to seal the win.

The victory also erased some of the frustration Wallace felt after losing the provisional pole to Chase Briscoe in Saturday’s qualifying.

His win is a major boost for 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan and fellow NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, especially as the team is currently in a legal dispute with NASCAR over charter status.

“Knowing how big this race is, knowing all the noise that's going on in the background—to set that all aside is a testament to these people here on the 23 team,” Wallace said.

With this win, Wallace not only made history but proved that he remains a strong contender in the sport.