Bubba Wallace responds after being informed of dishonoring the tradition of lucha mask

During the pre-race press conference in Mexico City, Bubba Wallace was told that unmasking the lucha mask in public is a dishonor. In response, the Mobile, Alabama native said he is new to the culture amid the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 race weekend.

Wallace, 31, enters the Mexico City race in the #23 Toyota Camry for 23XI Racing. Held at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, the 100-lap road course race marks a first for the NASCAR Cup Series. It is also the first points-paying race outside the US in over six decades.

In an X post, NASCAR Insider Matt Weaver chimed in to inform Bubba Wallace about dishonoring the tradition of the lucha mask. The Toyota pilot said he put the mask on in public before explaining:

“If I would have known that, I would have went back to the hauler, done it proper... I'm new to the culture, dawg. Give me some slack.”

Lucha libre wrestlers who lose their masks can't put them back on as a way to protect the integrity of the tradition. This explains why renowned lucha libre wrestlers, such as WWE star Rey Mysterio, keep a mask on throughout their careers.

Considering NASCAR hasn't raced in Mexico City in 17 years, it is understandable why some drivers are unaware of the local tradition, including Bubba Wallace, who debuted in the Cup Series in 2017. However, some veterans have already raced at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, including Kyle Busch, who won the 2008 Corona Mexico 200 (Xfinity Series).

Bubba Wallace driving the #23 Toyota Camry at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez - Source: Getty

Wallace arrived in Mexico City off a respectable fourth-place finish at Michigan International Speedway. He now has three top-5s and six top-10s, enough to rank 10th in the points standings behind reigning Cup Series champion Joey Logano.

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“This is my altitude training”: Bubba Wallace on wearing a lucha mask in Mexico City

Before the pre-race press conference began, Bubba Wallace asked if he could remove the mask because it was “too hot”. He followed it up by saying wearing a mask was his altitude training for the Mexico City race.

For the unversed, the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City is located at an elevation of above 7,300 feet. With a high altitude, the air is thinner, making it more challenging for drivers to breathe during a race. Moreover, the track conditions affect brake cooling performance and suffocate racecars (engines need a mixture of air and fuel).

Referring to the high altitude in the city, Bubba Wallace said (via Bob Pockrass on X):

“This is my altitude training. It's what we established.”

His 23XI Racing teammate, Tyler Reddick, had undergone an eight-week altitude training program Toyota made to combat the harsh track conditions in Mexico City. Reddick, driver of the #45 Toyota, said he slept in a hypoxic environment and noticed a difference after the program.

The Viva Mexico 250 is scheduled for June 15 at 3:00 p.m. Amazon Prime will cover the 100-lap contest as part of its five-race broadcast gig with NASCAR this year.