Bubba Wallace honored by EBONY Magazine as Leader in Sports

Bubba Wallace has been recognized by EBONY Magazine as a Leader in Sports. Wallace made the 2025 EBONY Power 100, which honors heroes of the Black community across sports, entertainment, and business.

Other notable athletes to be recognized by the magazine were Basketball Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony and Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin. The magazine wrote of Wallace:

“Bubba Wallace is still finding barriers to break more than a decade into his racing career. In July, he won the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, becoming the first Black driver ever to do so, in one of the most important races in NASCAR. It was a triumphant victory and marked another defining moment in a career that has been full of them. In 2021 he became the first Black driver to win the Cup Series at the Talladega Superspeedway since pioneering driver Wendell Scott in 1963.

“But Wallace is working to make sure his gains aren’t singular. Years ago, he made a successful push for NASCAR to ditch the display of Confederate flags at its events and he’s continually working to help bring more people of color into the sport.”

Bubba Wallace enjoying career year in NASCAR

Across the board, 2025 has been a career year for Wallace. He made the Cup Series playoffs for the second time in his career after winning the Brickyard 400 in July. The addition of crew chief Charles Denike has made a major impact, as Wallace has led a career-high 368 laps. 

He recently earned high praise from 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin, whom Wallace battled with for the win this past Sunday at Kansas Speedway. Hamlin called Wallace’s No. 23 car “the fastest freakin’ car we’ve got.”

“Bubba’s turnaround over the last few years has just been — I can’t believe it, truthfully,” Hamlin said on Monday’s Actions Detrimental podcast. “The maturity he has shown — he’s been the lead car at 23XI really the entire year. I think the 45 [Tyler Reddick] might have him on average finish because he doesn’t have as many DNFs, but the 23 has been the fastest freakin’ car we’ve got, and that’s something that just, I can’t believe it.

“Whether it’s Charles Denike and his setups or Bubba’s mentality, something changed over there that has made Bubba someone you’re going to have to contend with every single week. And you’re gonna have to contend with him this weekend, by the way. If you haven’t seen his road-course skills, they’ve dramatically improved. I couldn’t be more proud of that 23 team and what they’re doing week in, week out.”

Wallace faces a virtual must-win situation in this Sunday’s Round of 12 finale at the Charlotte ROVAL. Wallace has never won on a road course, though his performances have been on an upward trend of late.