Bubba Wallace has become the first black driver to win the Indianapolis 500 on a track course. It was his first win at the four crown jewel races.
While the drivers were pumped for he much-anticipated race, it looked like the main event was not going to happen any longer after the race was delayed due to a heavy downpour.
When the race began, Wallace had two overtimes from crashes, meaning he had to drive more laps. But his situation did not deter him, even when his team already assumed the worst.
Although their fears were valid, Wallace stayed on the track and pulled through to clinch his first major title on the Indianapolis track.
“Unbelievable,” Wallace shouted on his radio after he noticed he had just won.
The win was amazing, but Wallace had to beat a tough competition first. His name was Larson. He had won the previous competition and was on the verge of becoming the fourth consecutive winner of the major race title.
Larson was on Wallace’s heels, pursuing him at every turn and restart. The match was so close that Bubba won by 0.2 seconds.
With the record win, the black champion became the first black man in 60 years to win a NASCAR Cup Series race. The only other person was Wendell Scott in 1963.
“This one’s really cool,” Wallace said. “Coming off Turn 4, I knew I was going to get there — unless we ran out of gas. I was surprised I wasn’t crying like a little baby.”
He is quickly becoming ‘the role model’ for younger drivers and aspiring racers who might think they are at a disadvantage in a white-dominated sport.
Bubba has proven that he is a force to be reckoned with despite criticism.
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