Bubba Wallace admits he was ‘sent into depression’ after Ryan Blaney’s 2023 championship triumph

Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney had the best season of their Cup career in 2023.

Bubba Wallace admits he was ‘sent into depression’ after Ryan Blaney’s 2023 championship triumph

Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney (Via IMAGO)

Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace are two of the closest friends in the NASCAR garage. They have been racing together since their junior years and have shared the ups and downs of racing together. The 2023 season made the career-best Cup season of the duo.  Blaney made history for Team Penske Racing by winning the title while Wallace finished an all-time best P10 in the points table.

For Wallace. his best friend’s championship triumph was of mixed feelings. While he was more than happy to see Blaney winning the title, as a rival he was not dejected. Wallace recalled him telling Blaney he was depressed in a call a few days after the Phoenix season finale over the championship, though he is happy.

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He called me a couple days later and I was like, ‘Man, I guess you winning the championship sent me into depression.’ Like congrats, but I don’t want to see that.
Wallace said, as reported by ABC News.

Blaney’s title triumph was celebrated alongside the Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer and Tuck Series champion Ben Rhodes at Nashville Broadway during the NASCAR award ceremony. Wallace was present at the event with his wife Amanda Wallace, alongside most of the NASCAR  star racers.  

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Ryan Blaney says that Bubba Wallace is always hard on himself

Blaney addressed his best friend’s situation ahead of the event. He highlighted how Wallace has always been hard on himself and he tries to pick him up. The Ford driver recalled how he told Wallace that 2023 was a great season for him with a strong playoff run despite winning a race.

Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace
Ryan Blaney and Bubba Wallace (Via IMAGO)
It's just kind of how Bubba is, you know he’s very hard on himself. He is just super hard on himself and you try to pick him up, right? The other night I told him ‘Man, you did great. Tenth in points, you made a good run in the playoffs.’ OK, he didn’t win, but I mean, he had a great year.

Going into the 2024 season, Blaney and Wallace have two different objectives. The Team Penske Racing driver will be going next year with the primary objective of defending the title while Wallace’s objective will be to have yet another solid season and end his winless streak.

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