“So excited for this journey!” This line in Bubba Wallace’s welcome message for his little one signaled the good times ahead. On September 29th, 2024, Bubba and Amanda Wallace gave birth to Becks Hayden, a little bundle of joy that has brought light into their lives. And the impact is already visible – the No. 23 Toyota Cup Series driver is fetching spectacular finishes in his fifth year under 23XI Racing. And, Becks’ actions are already making fans go fruit loops!
From donning cute overalls in winter to being a feisty tourist, Becks Hayden’s activities have brought smiles. But what stands out is his early interest in racing – he witnessed his dad’s Duel 1 victory in Daytona. Now, Bubba Wallace dropped another piece of evidence of this budding motorsports enthusiast.
Bubba Wallace’s baby cheered for him
What can be better than handing down your passion to your children? Many such instances pepper NASCAR history. Seven-time Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt Sr. passed the baton to Dale Jr., who won 26 Cup Series races. Then, 16-time Most Popular Driver Bill Elliott made way for Chase Elliott, who is currently the reigning MPD. Similarly, Bubba Wallace seems to be cooking a similar journey for his son. What is more, Becks Hayden is embracing his opportunity. After Wallace clinched the pole for Daytona, he held out Hayden in a ‘Lion King’ pose while the latter sucked on a pacifier.
Recently, Becks Hayden did a little more than looking adorable to show his interest in racing. During last weekend’s Straight Talk Wireless 400 race, Bubba Wallace was on fire! Midway in the race, he contended with Homestead-Miami favorite Kyle Larson, snatching the lead at one point. Right at that moment, his baby was afar, but alert to his dad’s moves. Wallace narrated in a recent ‘Stacking Pennies’ episode: “So mother-in-law flew down. They all went to Naples for a couple of days, see the rest of her family.” While his grandmother held him, Becks’s eyes were glued to the screen where his dad was leading the NASCAR race. Show host Corey LaJoie joked, “Feeding a bottle with 22 to go, Papi’s leading the race.”
Bubba Wallace led 56 laps overall during the Homestead-Miami race. But as soon as he lost the lead to Alex Bowman in the final laps, Becks Hayden grew visibly tense. He threw up his hands in anticipation – as if acting like the worried crew chief who urges his driver to charge ahead. So Wallace narrated his son’s moves as if he had already assumed a NASCAR duty: “Go, go! I was actually second right there. But that’s okay. He was telling me to get back up there…Get up there, Dad!” Eventually, Dad could not get back up there, clinching a third-place finish behind Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman.
Although Becks Hayden is too little to actually take up a NASCAR duty, his efforts matter nonetheless. In fact, Hayden may be one big reason for Bubba Wallace’s improvement this season.
The wonders a baby can bring
If you dial back two to three years, you might see a different Bubba Wallace. From sparking controversy by intentionally wrecking Kyle Larson in 2022 to feeling low because his best friend won the 2023 championship, Wallace used to complain about many things. Every miserable race result affected him deeply. However, the 2025 season has seen a marked change in this behavior.
Obviously, 23XI Racing implemented several changes in the 23 team. Charles Denike replaced Bootie Barker as the crew chief, and Rick Hendrick’s seasoned pit crew coach moved over. But another overlooked factor may be Becks Hayden’s impact on Wallace’s happiness.
Having a child can transform your life completely – take Kyle Busch, for instance. After welcoming his daughter, Linnix Key Busch, the NASCAR world saw a completely changed demeanor in the aggressive champion. Things have changed so much that he was seen giving advice to Connor Zilisch as a mentor! And Bubba Wallace believes the same thing happened to him.
That is why he could joke around about a loose wheel with his team in Homestead-Miami. Wallace attributes this carefree attitude to his son, as he admitted after winning the Duel 1 race. “It is the coolest thing, having a kid. You never know if you’re ready. I regret not having one earlier. He’s brought so much joy and a new perspective. I feel like I’m walking lighter because of him. Four months old, and he’s already changed my life.”
Evidently, Becks Hayden is already fulfilling a crucial duty on the racetrack. Who knows, he may be the reason for Bubba Wallace snapping his 86-race winless streak soon.
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