Bubba Wallace wrote his name in the history books on Sunday after he became the first Black driver to secure a victory on Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s 2.5-mile oval.
Per CBS News, Wallace, 31, emerged victorious after the race was delayed because of rain and was extended because of two overtimes. Wallace also managed to keep Kyle Larson at bay despite worries over his car running out of fuel.
Sunday’s feat marked Wallace’s third NASCAR Cup win. That was also his first victory after competing in 100 races, and his first win at one of the racing franchise’s four crown jewel races.
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“Unbelievable,” Wallace said after crossing the finish line. Following his victory, the 31-year-old shared an emotional moment with his wife and their 10-month-old son. In a previous interview with CBS Mornings, Wallace touched on fatherhood and how it had shifted his mindset.
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“Nothing else matters anymore, besides being a great father, being a great husband, being a great family man,” he explained. “Prior to that, it was always racing first, and I’ve missed out on a lot of good memories and opportunities by putting that first and causing a lot of stress from within or the people surrounding me … It took having a kid to realize there’s so much more to life.”
Wallace also touched on the significance of his victory after the race. “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,” he said. “I’m excited to see how far the goalpost has moved, so I get to go and chase that now.”
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