Lack of diversity has always been a major issue NASCAR has faced in it’s effort widen the premier stock car racing’s market in the modern era. But over the last few years the sport has made significant changes and introduced projects that has allowed minorities to explore the sport more.
23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace, the only African American racer in the top-tier and the most accomplished with two Cup wins alongside six Truck race win, is the face of NSASCAR’s diversity efforts. He has been instrumental in the sports’ diversity efforts, including the controversial decision to ban the Confederate flags.
Recently in an interview, Wallace was asked about fans booing him and about the change in diversity in the sport. He pointed out that the booes he gets have changed a lot and though he is still the only black driver in top tier, there are lot diversity behind the scenes as crew members alongside other roles.
I feel like it’s changed a lot… As far as being the ‘only’… In the cup series, yes. Behind the wheel, yes. But there’s a lot of different people in the garage that don’t look the same, let’s go back, say 10 years ago. Maybe even five years ago. It’s really well diverse. Bubba Wallace said via V-103 Atlanta.
Bubba Wallace breaks down his U.S. Air Force paint scheme for Dover
The U.S. Air Force will return as the sponsor for Bubba Wallace and will feature at this coming weekends race at Dover. While talking about it, Wallace pointed out that the new Flying Tiger paint-scheme they have come up with for this week as a throwback for the old Warhawk scheme.
My first day back in January meeting the new Air Force team, I was like, ‘People want (a Warhawk scheme), I want it. Let’s do something and bring it back.’ So they were like, ‘All right, we’ll work on something.’ And so we come up with the Flying Tigers scheme (for 2024). Bubba Wallace said.
The 2024 season so far has been consistent for Bubba Wallace, but he is yet to win a race and has been the same since 2022 Kansas playoff race. He has to clean up his execution and step up his game in order to secure a playoff spot this season. Dover might present him with a chance now.
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