NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace is a three-time winner in the Cup Series – but did you know he’s also got some skills on the drum set?
The driver of the #23 car for 23XI Racing, the team owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, is one of the most polarizing figures in the sport. He’s the only black driver in the Cup Series, and has found himself at the center of his fair share of controversies over his career.
Of course there was the “noose” incident at Talladega a few years ago, when it was reported that a noose had been found in his garage stall but it turned out it was actually just a garage door pull. The whole saga resulted in Bubba receiving quite a bit of hate for what people saw as perpetuating a hate crime hoax, even though it was actually now-former NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps who reported the supposed “noose” in the first place.
Bubba has also been open about his struggles with anxiety and depression, which in the past has resulted in some interviews in which he’s come off as rude or short with the media, something that obviously only provides ammo for his critics who already don’t like him.
And then of course there are his on-track incidents. Back in 2022, Bubba was suspended after intentionally wrecking Kyle Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. And just this past season, he was once again on the receiving end of a lot of criticism after he apparently didn’t realize that he was three wide at Daytona and tried to change lanes, resulting in a massive crash.
Regardless, Bubba seems like he’s actually a pretty nice and laid back guy who just doesn’t really like the spotlight. But he put those fears aside to hop on stage recently to help his former teammate celebrate a big moment.
Last week, Kurt Busch was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame alongside Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick.
Busch spent the 2022 seasons, which turned out to be the final season of his Cup Series career at 23XI Racing, as a teammate to Bubba Wallace, before ultimately being forced to retire following a concussion he suffered during a wreck during qualifying at Pocono Raceway. In fact, Wallace even switched to Busch’s #45 car during the playoffs that year after Busch got injured, in an attempt to compete for the owner’s championship.
It was an unceremonious exit from behind the wheel for a driver who won a Cup Series championship and 34 races during his two decades in the sport, but during his Hall of Fame induction Busch finally got the recognition he deserved for his incredible NASCAR Cup Series career. And at the afterparty, Wallace even helped honor his teammate by showing off his skills on the drum set.
Bubba is actually a pretty good drummer, something he’s talked about as one of his hobbies in his spare time. I’m not sure how much drumming he gets to do these days with a one and a half year old son at home, but we’ve seen videos before of Bubba showing off his chops:
(Looks like he’s got a pretty good setup there. Got the acoustic foam on the walls and everything).
At Busch’s afterparty, Bubba admitted that he was more nervous to pick up the drumsticks in front of a crowd than he is when he hops behind the wheel of a race car:
“I race cars for a living. This is the most nervous I’ve ever been before in my life. This is all for you Kurt.”
Bubba, who’s a notorious heavy metal fan, then joined the band for Rage Against the Machine’s “Bulls on Parade,” and honestly, he crushed it.
I know his seat is probably pretty safe in NASCAR, but it’s always good to have a backup plan just in case.
