Bubba Wallace Can Start Believing In Himself After Brickyard Win

NASCAR Cup Series: Bubba Wallace Can Start Believing In Himself After Brickyard Win

Did Bubba Wallace finally silence the critics with his victory on Sunday at the Brickyard 400? Not necessarily. The doubters may never be completely silenced, but there is only one critic who matters, and that’s Wallace himself.

Bubba’s Moment of Triumph

Bubba Wallace celebrated at the famed yard of bricks after clinching the NASCAR Cup Series Brickyard 400 signup bonus casino. A driver who has been open about his struggles with the pressures of NASCAR, Wallace admitted to grappling with doubts near the end of the race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway—a race that’s widely regarded as one of the sport’s marquee events.

“I’ll say those last 20 laps, there were ups and downs of telling myself, ‘You’re not going to be able to do it,’” Wallace shared. “I hate that I’m that way.”

A Long Road to Victory

Entering Indianapolis, Wallace was enduring a 100-race winless streak, and this victory marked the third of his NASCAR Cup career mapua cardinals roster season 99. It was his first win in a regular-season race, allowing him to secure a spot in the playoffs. He had signed a contract extension late last season and understands that there are high expectations since he drives for well-known figures like Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan.

“Not being able to do it for almost three years, you really start to doubt yourself and wonder…‘Is this it? After the contract’s up, is this it?’” Wallace expressed. “I’ve still got a couple of years left, but hopefully this gives me another year at least.”

A Balanced Mindset

The 31-year-old driver, who welcomed his son ten months ago, appears to have adopted a more balanced mindset this year. He strives not to let the frustrations from a poor performance linger throughout the week. However, it’s clear that the weight of not winning for nearly three years weighed heavily on him.

His teammate, Tyler Reddick, captured the regular-season title last year and was among the four championship finalists, while Wallace unfortunately missed the playoffs.

Facing Criticism

Any driver on a 100-race winless streak faces scrutiny regarding their place in the sport. As the only Black driver in the NASCAR Cup Series, Wallace experiences additional pressure to prove that his race does not dictate his ability to compete. To put it into perspective, female driver Danica Patrick faced similar challenges during her time in NASCAR.

“Does anybody know where the goal post got moved to now?” Wallace questioned after the race. manila casino online “Did it get moved yet? [My win] is rigged?”

Reflecting on a Career

Wallace has been competing in the Cup Series for eight seasons. In most pro sports, that length of time is considered a strong career rsg esports. five9login However, in NASCAR, drivers are often evaluated on their wins and championships, and those who cannot remain competitive week in and week out risk being labeled as mediocre.

Though Wallace has not consistently racked up the wins that would qualify him as a championship contender, not every driver is destined to do so. With three Cup victories, he has as many (or more) wins than 19 of the other 35 full-time drivers. By that metric, his career has been more successful than half of his competitors.

His victory last Sunday serves as a testament to his place in the Cup Series. Now, he can begin to truly believe it.

What does this win mean for Bubba Wallace’s future in NASCAR?