Is Bubba Wallace's real name Bubba?

Bubba Wallace Jr. is a professional stock car racing driver. Wallace competes full-time in the NASCAR Cup series and drives for the 23XI Racing, a team co-owned by the NBA legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. Wallace drives the No. 23 Toyota Camry. Wallace's racing journey began at the age of nine. In 2005, he won 35 of the Bandolero series' 48 races held and in 2008, he became the youngest driver to win at Franklin County Speedway in Virginia. His achievements include being the highest-finishing African-American in the Daytona 500 (2nd, 2018 and 2022), the 2017 U.S. Short Track Nationals Super Late Model 100 Winner (inaugural race), and the First African-American to win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series (Martinsville, 2014).

Is Bubba Wallace's real name Bubba?

No, Bubba Wallace's real name is not Bubba. His full name is Darrell Wallace Jr. Bubba, a nickname he has known by since childhood. Bubba Wallace got his nickname 'Bubba' from his sister. When he was a baby, his older sister, Brittany called him Bubba, and the name stuck. It has been a part of his identity ever since, both professionally and personally. In an interview with Jimmy Kimmy Live with guest host Anthony Anderson, when Bubba Wallace said "That's been a popular question as of late," he explained. "My sister gave me that nickname the day I was born. We don't know why. I don't know if she will ever admit why but we thought it was because she couldn't say brother but I think she's too embarrassed to admit that. But ever since the day I was born, I've always been Bubba."

And for old and new sports fans, we want to know that this Bubba is not Bubba Watson from the golf world.

"I get mixed up with [him] all the time and especially as of late as well," he joked during his interview before sharing how he began his career in the sport. "I was racing go-karts at the age of nine when I started and I didn't know what the set path was going to be. I had no dreams or aspirations to be where I am today. It just kind of happened."

Bubba Wallace's Career Timeline

• Bubba Wallace started racing at the age of 9.
• Competed in various karting competitions from 2005-2007.
• Transitioned to late model stock cars in 2008, becoming the youngest winner at Franklin County Speedway.
• Won UARA-Stars Rookie of the Year in 2009.
• Selected for NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program in 2010.
• Made Hisoty as the first African-American to win a race in the series in 2010 and Rookie of the year honors.
• Continued to excel in the K&N Pro Series East in 2011-2012.
• Enteres the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2013, winning his first race at Martinsville Speedway.
• Competed full-time in the Truck Series in 2014, earning four wind and a third place finish.
• Moved to the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2015.
• Made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 2017, becoming the first African American driver to race full-time since Wendell Scott.