How did Bubba Wallace get his nickname?

Here are the answers to the burning questions about Bubba Wallace's nickname and the connection with Rusty Wallace.

How did Bubba Wallace get his nickname?

Bubba Wallace. Image via NASCAR.

Bubba Wallace delivered some solid performances over the years. He is also known for expressing his emotions and being vulnerable. As a result of all that, he has a loyal fan base and opposition as well. It is natural for fans to be curious about their favorite driver. Many wonder how he got his first name, “Bubba”. His actual name is William Darrell Wallace Jr., named after his father Darrell Wallace Sr., So how did he get his nickname?  

Bubba Wallace has become one of the most recognizable talents in the NASCAR Cup Series. The 29-year-old pilots the No.23 Toyota car for 23XI Racing. Wallace entered the Cup Series in 2017. He was the first African American to race in the series since Bill Lester in 2006. He spent three years with Richard Petty Motorsports before moving to 23XI Racing in 2021. He won his first Cup Series race with the team created by Micheal Jordan and Denny Hamlin in his maiden season at Talladega. 

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Bubba Wallace revealed how he got his name in an episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. He admitted it was a popular question. It was his sister who gave him the name “Bubba”. He claimed;

My sister gave me that nickname the day I was born. We don't know why. I don't know if she will ever admit why but we thought it was because she couldn't say brother but I think she's too embarrassed to admit that. But ever since the day I was born, I've always been Bubba.

There are more details about Wallace’s relationship with his family in the popular Netflix series Race: Bubba Wallace. The mini-series covers Wallace’s mission to make a difference in the world and his career. It is also about the personal toll it has taken on Wallace. The show discusses the racial abuse he suffered while establishing himself in the lower tiers. It describes the sport, Bubba Wallace himself, and his relationship with his family. It also covers racial discrimination in the sport. 

Bubba Wallace was born in Mobile, Alabama. His parents are Darrell Wallace Sr. and Desiree Wallace. As Wallace’s fame grew in NASCAR, there have been questions about whether he is related to NASCAR’s Russell Wallace and his sons, Rusty and Kenny Wallace. The answer is no. Bubba Wallace is not related to them. They share the last name, but there is no other connection between them.

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Rusty Wallace, Bubba Wallace. Images via Wikipedia & NBC News.

Rusty Wallace is most accomplished NASCAR driver with Wallace sir name. He was a reputed racer and still holds a legendary status. Russell William “Rusty” Wallace Jr. was famous for racing in Florida. He won a couple of local titles there. He drove in the Cup Series from 1980 to 2005. Rusty won the 1984 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year and the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion. Rusty Wallace was also inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Though Bubba Wallace and Rusty Wallace are not related, the two drivers came together in 2018 to contribute to social work. They raised money for healthcare services and education for kids. Bubba Wallace is aware of the fans’ curiosity about whether he is related to Rusty Wallace. The 29-year-old found it funny and posted an image of a t-shirt on social media clarifying he is not related to Waltrip, Rusty, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. The t-shirt read

Darrell, not Waltrip, Wallace not Rusty, Junior not Earnhardt.

Bubba Wallace’s start to the new season has been concerning. The results are not what he hoped for entering the 2023 season. However, there is still time to turn things around. So far, Wallace has only one top-10 finish. It was when he finished 4th at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Bubba Wallace is currently 22nd in the 2023 Cup Series standings. He finished 4 out of 7 races. His misfortune continued from the crash in the Daytona 500 to his mistake in COTA. Though it has been a rough start, Wallace is talented and might eventually win a race. 

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