Wallace emotional after historic NASCAR Cup Series win

Reuters: Bubba Wallace held back tears while reflecting on the long road that led him to his first-ever NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega Superspeedway on Monday.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) celebrates after he was announced the winner of the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway

His victory in the YellaWood 500 came after a rainstorm cut the race short with Wallace in the lead, making him the first Black driver to win a race in NASCAR’s premier series since Wendell Scott did so in 1963.

“I never think about those things,” Wallace said when asked about his historic achievement. “But when you say it like that, it obviously brings a lot of emotion, a lot of joy to my family, fans, friends. It’s pretty damn cool. Just proud to be a winner in the Cup Series.”

Wallace won in a car owned by basketball great Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, who last year partnered to form a new single-car NASCAR Cup Series team with Wallace as the driver.

“This is for all those kids out there who want to have an opportunity in whatever they want to achieve, and be the best at what they want to do,” said Wallace.