Earlier this year, Bubba Wallace and his wife Amanda shared the exciting news that they are expecting their first child. The 23XI Racing driver also mentioned that their baby is expected to arrive around the same time as his birthday. Wallace even took to social media to humorously comment on the timing, joking about the baby possibly being born during his birthday week.
Recently, as the couple approaches the five-week countdown to their baby’s arrival, Wallace opened up about how they are handling the pregnancy. In a conversation with Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his podcast, Wallace reflected on the experience thus far. He shared, “I’ve been super calm, cool, and collected about it, right? Amanda, she’s been going through the ups and downs and just the excitement of motherhood for her—feeling the baby kick and all the things you said. She loves it; she thinks it’s the coolest thing ever. We’re five weeks out Thursday, and it’s crazy to think. She’s starting to feel some pain and some pressure in certain areas, and now she’s worried like, ‘Oh my God, if I do one wrong move, is the baby coming now?’ She’s overthinking everything.”
Wallace also mentioned that Amanda recently asked him if he was excited about becoming a father. His response was honest, as he admitted that there’s a lot happening in his life right now. It’s important to note that Wallace, who drives the #23 car, is currently facing the pressure of being just over 20 points below the playoff cutline with only one race left in the regular season. Despite the stress and busyness, Wallace reassured his wife that he is indeed excited about becoming a dad, even though it takes a lot for him to express excitement.
The couple is fully embracing the process of preparing for their new arrival. Wallace noted, “We’re both enjoying the process. She’s grown; she’s strictly belly, hasn’t put on any other weight anywhere else. It’s crazy. She says that might change in the last couple of weeks, but it’s been awesome to see her grow and enjoy the whole process. Every time I’m around with her, she’s like, ‘Oh, he’s kicking.'” His words paint a picture of a couple deeply involved in the journey of pregnancy, with Amanda particularly enjoying the moments of feeling their baby move.
During the podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared his own experience of fatherhood, offering Wallace a glimpse of what’s to come. While Earnhardt didn’t give direct advice, he recounted his favorite memory from the birth of his child. He described a special moment that happens in the delivery room right after the baby is born.
Once the initial joy and excitement of seeing the baby with the mother pass, the newborn is typically taken to be weighed. This brief moment, while the baby is on a little metal plate near the mother, gives the father a unique opportunity to be alone with the child. “It’s your moment. It’s a dad moment, just you and the baby just for a brief moment, you get a second alone with the child. You notice it’s real, it’s real,” Earnhardt shared with Wallace.
Earnhardt continued, expressing his belief that Wallace would cherish this moment, especially given his emotional nature. “Knowing how you are, and you live with big emotions, and when things are good and you’re happy, you’re really happy and I’m kind of the same way. That whole thing is going to be a hell of a ride for you, I’m excited for you,” Earnhardt added.
As Wallace prepares for fatherhood, he also faces challenges on the racetrack. Currently, he is 21 points shy of securing a playoff spot as he heads into the Cook Out Southern 500 in Darlington. At 31 years old, Wallace holds the 13th position in the regular standings with 637 points. Balancing the demands of his racing career with the anticipation of becoming a father is undoubtedly a significant chapter in Wallace’s life.
While the next few weeks are sure to be filled with excitement and perhaps some anxiety, Wallace seems to be taking everything in stride, with the support of his wife and the anticipation of a new beginning. The journey to fatherhood, coupled with the challenges of his professional life, promises to be an intense and rewarding experience for the NASCAR driver. As the days count down to the birth of his child, Wallace’s focus remains divided between his racing ambitions and the life-changing event that awaits him at home.
