Bubba Wallace shared a touching glimpse of his bond with his son Becks just before the Cup Series race in Chicago, highlighting a lighthearted moment amid the mounting pressure of competition. The photos, featuring the pair in a playful and affectionate setting, brought a warm response from fans anticipating Wallace’s performance in the upcoming event.

Becks, born in September 2024, has quickly become a symbol of good fortune for Wallace, who has showcased his son‘s footprints on his racing helmet as a personal charm. On July 4, Wallace posted images on X showing him napping alongside Becks, captioning the post:

“Travel days like father, like son” —Bubba Wallace, NASCAR Driver

With the Grant Park 165 Chicago Street Race approaching, Wallace faces significant challenges in maintaining his position in the NASCAR playoffs. As the driver for 23XI Racing, he currently holds the 16th and final playoff spot, only 23 points above the cutoff, with eight races remaining in the regular season.

Wallace’s recent record on road-course layouts has been difficult, managing only one top-ten finish in his last thirteen attempts. The Chicago street circuit, known for its tight turns and technical demands, will test his ability to protect his playoff standing as he strives to secure better results moving forward.

Wallace Voices Concerns Over Spotter Placement and Track Safety

In addition to his racing pressures, Wallace has openly criticized the inadequate placement of spotters at various NASCAR tracks, emphasizing the negative impact on driver safety. He singled out the recent Mexico City race, where spotters were positioned behind obstructed areas such as trees and banners, severely limiting their ability to see the crucial turn one.

Wallace described the situation as “completely unacceptable,” urging NASCAR to revisit their policies by either improving spotter visibility or reevaluating the use of spotters altogether to enhance safety and communication during races. He stressed that effective spotter placement is essential for providing drivers real-time guidance and preventing accidents.

“Spotters into a turn one in Mexico, do you know where they were standing? You can’t see anything. So if we want to talk about safety and all this stuff, either say we’re not racing with spotters or get them in a position and make sure the area is safe for them to operate in to give us the safety and the protocols that we need,” Bubba Wallace said via Frontstretch [5:52 onwards]

“Sticking them behind trees or behind banners or whatever is at this point where we’re at in the year is completely unacceptable,” he added.

Unlike oval tracks, where spotters have high, clear vantage points, road courses like Mexico City, Sonoma Raceway, and Chicago pose obstacles due to multiple twists and limited sightlines. These venues often require multiple spotters to cover different track sections, but current arrangements have fallen short of meeting these complex demands.

Wallace highlighted that without proper spotter positioning, drivers are left exposed to unseen hazards, increasing the risk of collision and injury. This concern is particularly pressing as he prepares to compete on Chicago’s challenging street course, where visibility constraints could further complicate race dynamics.

As Wallace balances the emotional support from his son Becks with the technical difficulties of the racing season, his outspoken stance on spotter safety underscores a call for urgent improvements. The upcoming race in Chicago not only represents a critical moment in his playoff pursuit but also serves as a potential catalyst for changes in NASCAR safety protocols.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Did Bubba Wallace ever win a race?

A. On October 26, 2013, Wallace made history as the first African-American driver to win a race in NASCAR’s national series since 1963. He claimed victory at the Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200, held at Martinsville Speedway.

Q. Has Bubba Wallace ever won?

A. Wallace achieved his initial Cup victory at Talladega on October 4, 2021, when the race ended early because of rain.