William “Bubba” Wallace
Concord, North Carolina
NASCAR Driver & Philanthropist
Before racing, competition came alive for Bubba Wallace at the Boys & Girls Club of Cabarrus County. There, he spent hours after school playing pool and basketball while his parents ran a full-time business. Bubba Wallace has made history multiple times in NASCAR: he became the first Black driver in 50 years to win a national series race in 2013, the first since Wendell Scott to win a Cup Series race in 2021, and in 2025 won the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That victory secured his second NASCAR Playoffs appearance, where he finished 11th overall. Today, he’s known as one of NASCAR’s most successful African American drivers. Off the track, Bubba drives opportunities for young people through his Live To Be Different Foundation, including collaborating with local Boys & Girls Clubs to introduce more kids to motorsports.
