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IndyCar star Scott McLaughlin reacts to Bubba Wallace Brickyard 400 win: ‘He’s been going through it’

Originally posted on 5 GOATs | By Thomas Goldkamp | Last updated Jul 27, 2025 11:31 PM ET

Bubba Wallace’s win at the Brickyard 400 on Sunday left plenty of tear-stained cheeks in the crowd. And on Wallace himself.

The win was a long time coming. Wallace had previously gone through a stretch of 100 races without a win before winning the crown jewel race at Indianapolis on Sunday.

Just about everyone had positive things to say after the race. Wallace, for his part, was overcome with emotion. At one point, he laid down on the track after kissing the bricks. His son Becks laid on his chest as Bubba Wallace soaked in the moment, holding back tears as his wife Amanda looked on.

That moment was brilliantly captured by photographers. It provided the backdrop for a warm congratulations from IndyCar pro Scott McLaughlin.

“This guy is the best dad. Has been going through it with the racing gods,” McLaughlin wrote. “Always one of the first people to text me if we have a bad day. So happy for Bdub, a great dude and I hope the haters enjoyed that.”

This guy is the best dad. Has been going through it with the racing gods. Always one of the first people to text me if we have a bad day. So happy for Bdub, a great dude and I hope the haters enjoyed that. https://t.co/vwohIs2Nt6
— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin93) July 27, 2025

The haters were certainly taking their licks on Sunday afternoon. The day belonged to Bubba Wallace.

Wallace was asked by TNT reporter Marty Snider what he would say to his detractors. Wallace, who was bent over at the time seemingly trying to catch his breath, immediately perked up and his eyes went wide as he readied his answer.

“It don’t matter. I’m already winning at life,” Bubba Wallace said. “I’ve got the best wife, the best kid. People are always going to say something. I am excited to see how far the goalpost has moved. So I get to go and chase that now.”

The win locked Bubba Wallace into the playoffs, taking him off the cut line in the race to make the postseason. That will be a huge weight off his shoulders.

But there was also the backdrop of everything that’s going on with NASCAR. 23XI, Wallace’s team, is involved in a contentious lawsuit against NASCAR at the moment, and news of that is constantly swirling.

“Unbelievable,” Wallace said. “To win here at the Brickyard, knowing how big this race is, knowing all the noise that’s going on in the background, to set that all aside is a testament to these people here on this 23 team. It’s been getting old running on the cut line.”

Many, like Scott McLaughlin, were only all too thrilled to see Bubba Wallace in victory lane. Now the pressure is off and Wallace can chase a championship in the postseason.

This article first appeared on 5 GOATs and was syndicated with permission.

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