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Bubba Wallace drops a 'Rocky Top, go Vols' during Bristol pre-race introductions

ProfilePhotoby: Nick Geddes09/13/25NickGeddesNews
Bubba Wallace
Matthew O'Haren-Imagn Images

Bubba Wallace appears to be in a jovial mood ahead of Saturday’s Bristol Night Race. Wallace came out for driver introductions to GloRilla‘s “Bad Bih 4 Ya,” and then dropped a popular phrase for many in attendance at the Tennessee short track.

“Rocky Top, go Vols,” Wallace said, via Noah Lewis of TSJSports.

Wallace is a longtime Tennessee fan, notably throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for a Volunteers baseball game last season. Tennessee football went to overtime against Georgia on Saturday, and you know Wallace had to be locked into the game prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 16 finale. He was hoping to squeeze that game in before the race.

“I hope so,” Wallace said, laughing, via the Victory Lane Vibes podcast. “So, I can watch a little bit. I mean, last time I was at the Georgia game was last year, and we ran back the opening kickoff. That place was electric, and then we never scored again. So, as long as I can see the opening kickoff, I’ll be good. … Go Vols!”

Bubba Wallace confident heading into Bristol

Unfortunately for Wallace, his team fell in overtime, 44-41. He didn’t get to see that, as he’s readying up for 500 laps of racing at The Last Great Colosseum. The 23XI Racing driver is +50 above the cutline, fourth in the playoff standings.

Wallace should be good to make the Round of 12 as long as he stays out of trouble and finishes the race. His start to the playoffs has been encouraging with a P6 finish at Darlington and an eighth-place finish at Gateway.

“Really, really good our chances leaving here tomorrow night, even in the future for the playoffs. So, our team has been firing off cylinders, just a couple of things to clean up,” Wallace told Frontstretch on Friday. “And the reason why we can’t get victory lane tomorrow night and continue to add bonus points, that’s been really big. We picked up the statement last weekend, so that gets us an extra one.”