Roush Fenway Racing has announced that Bubba Wallace will drive the No. 6
Ford Mustang for the team in the NASCAR XFINITY Series next season.
The signing
pairs NASCAR’s winningest NXS team with a young driver widely regarded as one
of the most talented up-and-coming competitors in NASCAR. The 21-year-old
Wallace has posted five wins in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,
including four trips to victory lane in 2014.
“I’ve had a remarkable journey over the last few years thanks to people who
have put me in a position to win the races that I have,” said Wallace. “When I
first joined the sport, many said I would never compete with the real drivers.
Now, as I join the winningest team in NASCAR history, I take that as a
responsibility to add more wins to the team’s legacy and help tear down the
barriers for the next generation of NASCAR drivers.”
“We are very excited to bring Bubba Wallace into the Roush Fenway fold,”
said team president Steve Newmark. “He is viewed in industry circles as one of
the brightest young drivers and I feel that we are very fortunate to be able to
bring him on board. He has a charismatic personality and at the same time
has exhibited the ability to win on the race track. We are looking
forward to getting him in our race cars next season.”
In 2013 with his victory at Martinsville Speedway, Wallace became the first
African American driver to win in one of NASCAR’s three national series since
1963. He has competed in six career NXS races, earning four top-10 finishes and
a pole at Dover International Speedway.
“We are certainly pleased to have Bubba Wallace come on board,” said team
co-owner Jack Roush. “He is certainly a great young talent and I feel it
will be mutually beneficial for us to be able to put him into a team environment
with a veteran driver like Elliott (Sadler) and the young guys Chris Buescher
and Ryan Reed. We have had a great deal of history in the NASCAR Xfinity Series
and we are happy to have Bubba as the latest piece of that rich legacy.”
“We’re thrilled to have Bubba Wallace be part of our Ford Mustang racing
efforts,” said Jamie Allison, director, Ford Racing. “His winning
performances since becoming part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program have
certainly made him one of the drivers in the sport to watch in the future, and
we think he can bring a lot to Roush Fenway and Ford, both on and off the
track.”
Wallace’s racing career started in 2004 when he began competing in Jr.
Sportsman Champ Karts. He finished his first season second overall in points at
the Carolina Asphalt Racing Winter Series. He moved to Bandoleros in 2005 and
won an amazing 35 of the 48 races and posted 40 top-five finishes. He became
the first driver to win five races in a single week. In addition, he competed against
much older competition in the Outlaw Division and won all but one race in 2005.
Wallace moved up to Legends in 2006 and completed a phenomenal rookie
season with 11 wins, 27 top-five and 34 top-10 finishes in 38 total starts. He
started racing Late Models in 2007, competing in the final five races of the
UARA Touring series.
Born in Mobile, Ala., Wallace and his family moved to North Carolina for
his father’s work when he was just two years old. He also played basketball,
before fully concentrating his efforts on his racing career.
Go Bubba. This kid has earned this ride! And thanks to Dave for standing up for such good talent.
ReplyDeleteI was upset when Kyle and Coach Joe let him get away but, if they couldn't put in a full time Xfinity ride, so be it! Bubba has earned his full time Xfinity ride! Merry Christmas Jack, here's to you! Here's to Bubba! I might have to go buy a Roush Mustang now!
ReplyDeleteHis name is Darrell.
ReplyDelete