During a candid chat on the Happy Hour Podcast with Kevin Harvick, Bubba Wallace opened up about his early racing days and revealed the name of a driver he once had serious tension with—none other than Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill. Wallace recalled how the two clashed frequently while competing in the Bandolero and Legends car series during the early 2000s.
Wallace explained that their rivalry during that period was intense, admitting, “We hated each other.” While both were talented young racers, Wallace often held the upper hand, especially in 2005 when he dominated the Bandolero Series with an impressive 35 wins in 48 races, leaving Hill trailing far behind in the standings.
Reflecting on those days, Wallace said, “I think it would have to be Legend cars, man. The competition back then was fierce. I’m gonna go with Austin Hill. Man, we hated each other.” He also mentioned how their paths would later cross again in NASCAR’s developmental ranks and even during their time together at Toyota.
Wallace eventually advanced through the NASCAR K&N Pro Series and Xfinity Series before landing in the Cup Series, where he now drives for 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. Meanwhile, Hill made his way through the ARCA Menards Series, Truck Series, and Xfinity Series, where he currently races for Richard Childress Racing. Most recently, Hill took home a controversial victory at the Marine Corps 250 at Martinsville Speedway.
The podcast also touched on another challenge Wallace is dealing with—feeling the heat from teammate Tyler Reddick’s recent success. While there’s no jealousy involved, Wallace admitted that Reddick’s achievements have made him reflect on his own performance.
“Seeing the success of the 45, not from a jealousy standpoint, but it’s like ‘I have the same stuff,’ and I feel like I’m just as competitive,” Wallace explained. “I put that pressure on myself. So, I’m back in the gym, no one told me to. I realized I was just doing enough to get by—and that’s not okay.”
Wallace’s last Cup win came in 2022, while Reddick has consistently found success—winning multiple races in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and even making the Championship 4 last season.
“We Couldn’t Stand Each Other”: Bubba Wallace Reflects on Fierce Rivalry with Austin Hill
