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Bubba Wallace is a winner.
Wallace’s number 23 car was at the front when the race was suspended after 117 laps of the YellaWood 500 at Talladega had been completed.
(Sean Gardner / Getty Images)
The 23IX Racing driver was leading the NASCAR playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway on Monday when she was suspended due to rain after lap 117.
Since more than half of the scheduled 188 laps have been completed, NASCAR rules state that the ranking will be marked as the official order of finish.
The race was postponed from Sunday due to bad weather on the Alabama track.
(Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
Wallace, who did not advance to the playoffs, was leading championship contender Brad Keselowski Joey Logano at the time the red flag was hoisted.
This is Wallace’s first victory in the Cup Series, where his previous best results were second places at the 2018 Daytona 500 and the 2021 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
With this victory, Wallace becomes the second African-American to win a Cup Series race after Wendell Scott who won in 1963.
“It obviously brings a lot of emotion, a lot of joy to my family, my fans, my friends. It’s pretty darn cool,” Wallace said in tears after the race.
Wallace said it was fitting that the victory came in Talladega, where last summer he found himself at the center of the controversy when a door pull rope tied to a noose was found in his garage, resulting in a wave of support from NASCAR. It was later determined that the noose was not aimed at him, triggering unfounded accusations from some, including President Trump, that the incident was a publicity stunt or a hoax.
“It’s all those kids who want to have an opportunity in whatever they want to accomplish and be the best at whatever they want to do and you’re going to go through a lot of bulls – t, but you ‘I still have to stay true to your path and don’t let nonsense get to you and stay strong, stay humble, stay hungry, ”Wallace said.
“There have been a lot of times I’ve wanted to give up and you surround yourself with the right people and times like this that you enjoy.”
The victory was also the first for the 23XI Racing team, started by owners Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan this season.
This breaking news has been updated with additional information
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