Bubba Wallace, driver of the No. 23 Toyota Camry TRD for 23XI Racing, is known as one of the most driven and focused drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS). 2023 marks Wallace’s sixth full-time season in the Cup Series and his third racing with 23XI. Wallace is coming off a career year, earning his second career NCS win in addition to his first career pole award, five top-five and 10 top-10 finishes.

Wallace, who is the only Black driver in the Cup Series, rose to prominence in 2020 when he spoke out on social justice issues. He was tapped to be 23XI’s inaugural driver the following season and along with the team, has continued his efforts to help NASCAR become more inclusive and diverse. Long before speaking out though Wallace was making history within NASCAR. He first made headlines in 2013 when he won the truck race at Martinsville Speedway, becoming the first Black driver in 50 years to win a NASCAR national series race. Wallace again made history in 2020 by becoming the first Black driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race since Wendell Scott in 1963. To date, Wallace has 212 career starts in the Cup Series with two wins, one pole award, 15 top-fives and 29 top-10 finishes. In 2023, Wallace raced his way into the NCS Playoffs for the first time in his career.

Wallace has also been involved in giving back and inspiring young people to reach for their dreams. In 2017, Wallace formed the Live to Be Different Foundation, which encourages the next generation to be better and more inclusive than the previous generation, so that they can achieve anything they put their mind to. The foundation strives to empower and support disadvantaged individuals with educational, medical, social and other types of assistance needed to help make their dreams a reality.

In December 2022, Wallace and his long-time girlfriend, Amanda, were married in Charlotte, N.C.