Bubba Wallace May Be An Even Bigger Story Than The Daytona 500 Winner
Bubba Wallace
It was Petty who hired  Wallace  last October to drive  his  famous No. 43 stock car  making  him  the first black driver to race regularly at NASCARâs top level since Scott in 1971. In fact  Scott had been the only African-American to race regularly at NASCARâs top level.
When Almirola  then Pettyâs driver  was injured last season   Wallace  replaced  him  for four races  doing better in each race. Petty had hired  Wallace  before Almirola even jumped to Stewart-Haas Racing in the offseason  taking Danica Patrickâs spot.
Petty said he hired  Wallace  because of his vast potential  not his skin color. But diversity is important to NASCAR  which is trying to appeal to younger fans to fortify sagging TV ratings and live attendance. Essentially   Wallace  replaced Patrick  who wrecked Sunday in what she said would be her last NASCAR race  finishing 35th.
Patrick never finished in the top five in 191 top-series races  but  Wallace  can top that now. He received a good-luck call before the race from Hammerinâ Hank Aaron. The four-time Formula One champion  Lewis Hamilton  who is black  also tweeted his best wishes.
âLuckily I was sitting down when I was replying to him â  Wallace  said Sunday of Hamilton. âI think I was taking a golf cart ride out to an appearance and I replied back. Really cool and really special for Hank Aaron also to call right there before was really special  and just knowing that people are tuning in and hopefully noticing the new face and the new change that's coming to NASCAR and they get behind it and support it. Just exciting.â
Even before he finished third in a qualifying race Thursday   Wallace  was a popular person around Daytona.  He  then ran near the front all afternoon in a race that was splotched by three big wrecks.  Wallace  avoided them all and won a joust with Denny Hamlin to finish second.
The next race is Sunday at Atlanta  an event that is much less prestigious than Daytona. But NASCAR appears to have some traction. Dillon  27  is one of several emerging young drivers  but  Wallace  has a unusual background for a stock-car driver.  He  tweeted last year  âYouâre not going to stop hearing about `the black driverâ for years.â
On Sunday   he  said  âI'm really looking forward to Atlanta. Don't know what the hell we'll have there because it's all new for us. I know this will carry over to Atlanta and be good.â
It was Petty who hired  Wallace  last October to drive  his  famous No. 43 stock car  making  him  the first black driver to race regularly at NASCARâs top level since Scott in 1971. In fact  Scott had been the only African-American to race regularly at NASCARâs top level.
When Almirola  then Pettyâs driver  was injured last season   Wallace  replaced  him  for four races  doing better in each race. Petty had hired  Wallace  before Almirola even jumped to Stewart-Haas Racing in the offseason  taking Danica Patrickâs spot.
Petty said he hired  Wallace  because of his vast potential  not his skin color. But diversity is important to NASCAR  which is trying to appeal to younger fans to fortify sagging TV ratings and live attendance. Essentially   Wallace  replaced Patrick  who wrecked Sunday in what she said would be her last NASCAR race  finishing 35th.
Patrick never finished in the top five in 191 top-series races  but  Wallace  can top that now. He received a good-luck call before the race from Hammerinâ Hank Aaron. The four-time Formula One champion  Lewis Hamilton  who is black  also tweeted his best wishes.
âLuckily I was sitting down when I was replying to him â  Wallace  said Sunday of Hamilton. âI think I was taking a golf cart ride out to an appearance and I replied back. Really cool and really special for Hank Aaron also to call right there before was really special  and just knowing that people are tuning in and hopefully noticing the new face and the new change that's coming to NASCAR and they get behind it and support it. Just exciting.â
Even before he finished third in a qualifying race Thursday   Wallace  was a popular person around Daytona.  He  then ran near the front all afternoon in a race that was splotched by three big wrecks.  Wallace  avoided them all and won a joust with Denny Hamlin to finish second.
The next race is Sunday at Atlanta  an event that is much less prestigious than Daytona. But NASCAR appears to have some traction. Dillon  27  is one of several emerging young drivers  but  Wallace  has a unusual background for a stock-car driver.  He  tweeted last year  âYouâre not going to stop hearing about `the black driverâ for years.â
On Sunday   he  said  âI'm really looking forward to Atlanta. Don't know what the hell we'll have there because it's all new for us. I know this will carry over to Atlanta and be good.â