DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bubba Wallace set a personal goal this season: to appreciate the small moments. That mindset was on full display in victory lane.
After winning the first of two Daytona 500 qualifying races Thursday, Wallace jokingly asked, “Can I get a Rolex for this one?”—a nod to the prestigious timepiece awarded to winners of the Rolex 24 endurance race.
Piloting the No. 23 Toyota for 23XI Racing, Wallace delivered an impressive performance, solidifying himself as a strong contender for Sunday’s Daytona 500. His victory means he will start third, behind pole-sitter Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric. His win also continued Toyota’s strong start at Daytona, following Briscoe’s pole position for Joe Gibbs Racing.
For Wallace, 31, this moment was extra special. He celebrated by spraying Coke on his crew, embracing team co-owner Denny Hamlin, and lifting his infant son high into the air in a playful “Lion King” tribute. His four-month-old, Becks Hayden Wallace, watched from his father’s arms, dressed in a checkered-flag bib with noise-canceling headphones and a pacifier.
Wallace and his wife Amanda welcomed Becks in late September, and fatherhood has profoundly impacted him. “Having a kid is the coolest thing,” he said. “I regret not doing it sooner. He’s brought so much joy and a fresh perspective. I feel lighter because of him.”
Emotions overwhelmed Wallace as he walked onto pit road holding his son. The moment was a reminder of how much has changed in his life.
Despite strong performances at Daytona, Wallace has yet to secure a win in a points race at the superspeedway. He’s finished runner-up twice in the Daytona 500 and has placed inside the top 15 in 12 of his 15 starts.
“I’m tired of talking about coming up short,” he admitted. “Every time I strap into a car here, I believe I can win. It just hasn’t worked out.”
Wallace nearly won the 500 in both 2018 and 2022 but fell just short. He hopes Thursday’s victory is a step in the right direction. “Maybe this is the crawl before we walk,” he said. “We’ve done almost everything right. But to win the 500, it has to be perfect.”
Regarding the possibility of President Donald Trump attending the race, Wallace was brief: “We’re here to race, not for the show.”
