As Americans celebrated Independence Day, NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace used the holiday to reflect on the country’s 250th anniversary, calling the United States “beautiful, complicated, and a work in progress.”
Wallace, who recently earned praise from 23XI Racing co-owner Denny Hamlin, shared the message on social media Friday, saying America’s willingness to evolve is one of its greatest strengths.
“250 years. This country is beautiful, complicated, and a work in progress,” he wrote. “Which is a massive privilege, and is exactly what makes it so great. The freedom to use our voices, challenge the status quo, and responsibility to shape the future can easily be taken for granted.”
The 23XI Racing driver also urged Americans not to let political differences overshadow their shared patriotism.
“You don’t have to agree with someone to have the same pride in the country we share. Real progress happens when we realize staying unified is bigger than our differences. USA!”
It isn’t the first time Wallace has spoken about the country’s political climate.
During an interview with OutKick’s Trey Wallace, his first cousin, in March, the NASCAR star questioned why Americans are so quick to judge one another over politics and personal beliefs.
“At the end of the day we’re all human beings, and people are gonna like what they like and not like what they don’t like, right?” Wallace said. “Who are we to judge somebody because they don’t agree with the things that we like to eat, or like to do, or the people we like or don’t like? And that’s just how it is. I have said over the last couple of years, it’s crazy how you can wake up and just say, ‘Oh man, it’s a beautiful day and the sky is nice and blue.’ Oh, you’re a Democrat or oh, you’re a Republican.”
Later in the interview, Wallace and Trey discussed the 2025 Daytona 500, which President Donald Trump attended. As Trump addressed the crowd at Daytona International Speedway, television cameras remained fixed on the No. 23 Toyota driver sitting inside his car.
Wallace said he didn’t even notice the moment and suggested people were simply looking for a reaction.
“I didn’t notice the Daytona 500 moment, but we have to sometimes remember that people are waiting for a reaction. And I’ve grown up and learned a lot throughout my reactions and actions. To just try to stay on a straight and narrow and not give anybody a reason to talk about.”
Wallace has remained one of NASCAR’s most polarizing drivers since 2020, when a garage pull rope was found in his assigned stall at Talladega Superspeedway and he claimed it resembled a noose.
An FBI investigation later concluded the incident was not a hate crime because the rope had been hanging in the garage since October 2019, months before Wallace was assigned to the stall.
The findings drew criticism from Trump and some members of the motorsports community.
Wallace later said he had intentionally stepped back from social media to avoid getting caught up in the constant negativity online.
“At the end of the day, you just got to enjoy life with the people that you want to be around, and surround yourself with the right people that will push you to do the right thing, treat you with respect. And that’s all you can ask for, and that’s what I do. I’m having fun with where I’m at,” he stated.
“I’ve definitely taken a step back, a couple steps back from the social media side and just look at it from trying to have fun with it throughout all the negativity and all the hate that’s being spewed out there daily. It’s kind of hard to not get caught up in that. But at the same time, I look at where I’m sitting – my wife and kid are upstairs, I have an incredible living, and I have an opportunity in front of me that no one sitting behind a screen or a keyboard can take away from me, no matter what they say.”
Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>
