Richard Childress had once noted that Kyle Busch’s racing style matured significantly following his son Brexton’s involvement in racing. Tyler Reddick has observed a similar, considerable change in Bubba Wallace following the birth of his son, Becks Hayden Wallace.
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On Dale Earnhardt Jr’s podcast, Childress pointed out that Busch’s paternal role and involvement in his son Brexton’s racing career have refined his racing perspective. Busch now desires a better, more refined racing style for his son, an evolution that has inevitably matured him as well.
Reddick spoke on the same lines when he attributed Wallace’s recent surge in performance to fatherhood, suggesting it has instilled a newfound confidence and consistency in the 23XI Racing driver’s approach. Wallace, currently ranked fifth in points, has shown good form this year. He had two strong superspeedway outings and has qualified in P2 at the Circuit of the Americas.
“Fatherhood will change you in ways you don’t expect. I think he’s got a good approach right now and am excited to see how he continues to grow and change at being a dad and how that affects racing for him. He seems like he’s in a good place right now,” said Reddick, who insisted that the change was evident since the birth of Wallace’s son on September 29 last year.
It also appears that Wallace’s approach to handling setbacks has evolved too. Previously, racing misfortunes weighed heavily on him, casting a shadow over his competitive spirit.
For instance, when his close friend Ryan Blaney won the 2023 Cup Series title, Wallace grappled with profound feelings of inadequacy due to his shortcomings on the track. However, his son’s arrival seems to have imbued him with a refreshing perspective.
Despite the disappointment at the Daytona 500, Wallace rejoined his team on pit road unexpectedly upbeat. Bubba himself acknowledged that his son’s presence has been key in fostering this newfound resilience and positivity.
“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,” he said.
During a recent press interaction, Wallace even took a call from his wife, showing an unknown, softer side of himself. And just a couple of races into this season, Wallace is already revealing sharper racing instincts.
While Bubba and his P29 finish following a crash on lap 197 of the 2025 Daytona 500 may not seem special, his overall performance tells a different story.
He torched Speedweeks with a victory in the Duel, accumulated valuable stage points, and secured a P9 finish at Atlanta. He has indeed made a strong start to this year’s NASCAR campaign. It will be intriguing to see how this early momentum propels him in Sunday’s race at COTA.
