The transformative power of fatherhood has been vividly demonstrated by NASCAR driver, Bubba Wallace. Following a disappointing finish in the 2025 Daytona 500, Wallace’s 16th start and his fourth outside the top 15, he revealed a refreshing shift in perspective. Despite his history of frustration and disappointment, Wallace has chosen to embrace his recent defeat and look forward to future races, a change that he attributes to his new responsibilities as a father.
In previous years, Wallace’s racing missteps had taken a significant toll on him. When his close friend Ryan Blaney won the 2023 Cup Series title, Wallace confessed to a deep sense of despondency over his own inability to secure a victory. However, the birth of his son, Becks Hayden, on September 29th the previous year, appears to have infused his life with a new sense of purpose and optimism.
Becks has accompanied Wallace and his wife Amanda on their various journeys, from holiday trips to New York City to the opening races of the NASCAR Cup Series. His presence has been a source of joy and motivation for Wallace, even in the face of professional setbacks like his recent Daytona 500 loss.
In the race, Wallace was a prominent figure, battling with Austin Cindric for the lead in the third stage. However, his chances were dramatically cut short when a multi-car wreck, triggered by Christopher Bell, resulted in his 29th place finish. Reflecting on the race in a recent ‘Door, Bumper, Clear’ episode, Wallace admitted his disappointment, but also highlighted a newfound resilience. “After last night, I was bummed that obviously we didn’t get the result that we wanted…I think that’s the first mistake, thinking you’re going to win or deserve to win…Just thought that was our best opportunity,” he said.
Upon returning to his pit road trailer, his wife Amanda expected him to be dejected. Instead, she was surprised to find him in good spirits. Wallace explained, “When that didn’t happen, I walked into the bus and Amanda…How long have we been together – 8 years, 9 years? I’ve always told her, ‘Hey, it’s a bad race, let’s just go the car and we’ll talk later.'” He added, “So she’s sitting there with the baby, he’s wide awake. I walked in and I’m okay, like, ‘Ah, it is what it is.’ She’s just looking at me…I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m good. We lost…Chill, we’re good…New year, new me.’ We’ll see how long that lasts.”
Wallace admitted that the presence of his son played a crucial role in his changed attitude. Becks was there to light up the atmosphere, even on Victory Lane. Wallace’s joy was evident when he won his first Duel race. Despite finishing runner-up in the Daytona 500 twice, in 2018 and 2022, his celebration in 2025 was truly memorable. He sprayed coke at his No. 23 crew, hugged Denny Hamlin and lifted Becks, who was wearing noise-canceling headphones and a checkered flag bib, into the air.
Wallace’s pride in his son is palpable. He shared, “He’s just a happy chill baby on both days – the grid for the Duel and the grid for the 500 – he just fell asleep in my arms…Yeah, just awesome. He was good…You would think that with all the camera flashes he would freak out. Maybe he was just overwhelmed, he didn’t know what to do.”
Instead of dwelling on his Daytona 500 misfortune, Wallace now has a delightful little son to create new memories with. It’s evident that fatherhood has brought about a positive change in Wallace’s life. As fans, we’re excited to see how this newfound motivation will translate on the racetrack in the future.
