INDIANAPOLIS — Bubba Wallace faced an uphill battle during the last 20 laps of the prestigious Brickyard 400, grappling with self-doubt and a lingering 100-race winless streak. “I kept telling myself, ‘I’m not going to be able to do it,’” he admitted. However, Wallace proved himself wrong by clinching a stunning victory at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, propelling both himself and his Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing team into the spotlight — and back into the competitive realm of NASCAR’s playoffs.
This win marked Wallace's first since 2022, breaking a lengthy stretch that had significantly impacted his self-confidence and left him in search of a mental reset. This year, he found that reset through the joys of becoming a first-time father, collaborating with a new crew chief — nine-year U.S. Army veteran Charles Denike — and immersing himself in Ryan Holiday’s motivational book, The Daily Stoic. Thus, while battling fierce competitors on the track, Wallace was also engaging in a personal struggle — and this time, he triumphed on both fronts.
“We’re all human and we’re all super hard on ourselves,” Wallace reflected. “You guys know how hard I can be on myself. … It’s still about working out those kinks and growing as a person.” Notably, during two critical overtime restarts, Wallace maintained a positive mindset, successfully outpacing NASCAR’s elite driver, Kyle Larson, each time.
Upon exiting the car, an exuberant Wallace celebrated by climbing atop the vehicle, flexing his muscles, and signaling for silence to the crowd — who had booed him during pre-race introductions. An emotional moment ensued as he embraced his infant son, Becks, holding him aloft like Simba in The Lion King. “To win here at the Brickyard, knowing how significant this race is, and to set aside all the noise is a testament to my team here at No. 23,” Wallace declared.
The “noise” he referred to encompasses the ongoing federal antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, which resulted in 23XI Racing losing its chartered status just two weeks prior after exhausting appeals and being denied a temporary restraining order. Despite competing as an “Open” car, this victory marked Wallace’s first triumph in NASCAR’s regular season. His previous wins at Talladega and Kansas occurred during the playoffs while he was not a playoff driver. Now, he has secured a spot in the 16-driver postseason with just four races remaining, freeing him from the points bubble.
During the first attempt at overtime, Wallace and Larson battled side-by-side through Turns 1 and 2, with Wallace ultimately taking the lead. However, just as he approached the final lap, a crash involving Zane Smith and Tyler Reddick brought out another caution, necessitating a second overtime. With fuel levels tight, Wallace, Larson, and others opted to stay out and take another gamble. This time, Wallace enjoyed an even better restart, clearing Larson and cruising to the most significant victory of his career.
