Today In Black History: Bubba Wallace
The first Black driver to win any major race on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Issue #904 Today In Black History, Wednesday, August 6, 2025
Bubba Wallace has become the first Black driver to win a major race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, often referred to as "The Racing Capital of the World," has over 100 years of rich history. It hosts some of the most significant races globally, including the renowned Indianapolis 500.
As one of the few Black drivers in a predominantly white sport, Bubba Wallace has faced and overcome numerous challenges both on and off the track, including race attendees who continue to fly the Confederate flag.
Wallace has been a vocal advocate for diversity and equality in motorsport, using his platform to address important social issues and effect tangible change.
Bubba Wallace was born William Darrell Wallace Jr. on October 8, 1993, in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Concord, North Carolina. His love for racing was kindled at a young age, with his father, Darrell Wallace Sr., playing an instrumental influence in his early career. Darrell Sr. owned an industrial cleaning company, and his mother, Desiree Wallace, is a social worker. Bubba is proud of his biracial heritage, with his mother being African American.
Bubba's journey into motorsports began with go-kart racing at the age of nine. By the age of 16, he had become the youngest driver to win at Franklin County Speedway in Virginia.
Bubba Wallace's career in NASCAR took off when he joined the Drive for Diversity program, which aimed to increase minority and female participation in the sport. He made history several times, including becoming the first African American to win a NASCAR national series race since Wendell Scott when he won a Truck Series race in 2013.
Over the years, Wallace has raced for several teams, including Joe Gibbs Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports, before joining 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and fellow NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. His move to 23XI Racing marked a significant milestone in his career, as it provided him with a platform to further his racing ambitions while advocating for greater diversity and inclusion in the sport.
Beyond his on-track achievements, Bubba has emerged as a powerful advocate for change within NASCAR and beyond. He has used his platform to speak out against racial injustice and has been a vocal supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2020, in the wake of George Floyd's murder, Wallace called for NASCAR to ban the Confederate flag from its events, a request that was subsequently fulfilled.
Bubba Wallace’s success at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and other venues has cemented his legacy as a trailblazer, inspiring future generations of racers from diverse backgrounds to pursue their dreams in motorsport.
Today In Black History
In 1795, Absalom Jones was ordained a deacon in the Protestant Episcopal Church.
In 1854, Congress passed the Confiscation Act, authorizing the appropriation of the property, including slaves, of rebel slaveholders.
In 1861, the British annexed Lagos, Nigeria.
In 1934, U.S. troops left Haiti, which had been occupied since 1915.
In 1962, Jamaica became an independent dominion within the British Commonwealth.
In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act, which authorized the suspension of literacy tests and the sending of federal examiners into the South.
In 1972, Hank Aaron hit his 660th and 661st home runs for the Atlanta Braves, breaking Babe Ruth’s MLB record for most home runs with one team.
In 2018, William G. Gross became the first African American Police Commissioner in Boston.
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