NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace is set to be featured in an ESPN E60 special
Fistful of Steel: The Rise of Bubba Wallace (E60)
Bubba Wallace will star in a special ‘Fistful of Steel’ via ESPN. The special is a deep-dive into the NASCAR drivers personal life as well as the ups and downs as a racing driver.
Wallace has had a roller-coaster career in NASCAR. 2021 was his fifth year in the sport and the first with new team 23XI Racing. The driver has become a polarizing personality among NASCAR fans.
He drove to his first career win at Talladega Superspeedway. The win came almost exactly 1-year following the noose incident at the same track a year prior.
Related: FBI concludes noose investigation from Talladega NASCAR race; It’s been there since October 2019
In 2020, Wallace was a voice for change in the sport. He spoke out against the Confederate flag which soon led to the ban of the flag at all NASCAR events.
With a noose found in the garage stall during the 2020 event at Talladega, Wallace became a household name. However, following an FBI investigation, the garage pull was tied in a noose, a year prior. Given the timeline, it was determined that the rope wasn’t targeted toward Wallace.
With the 2021 win at Talladega, Wallace became the second Black driver to win at the NASCAR Cup Series level.
Related: Bubba Wallace, Denny Hamlin react to NASCAR fans saying Talladega win was fixed
About the program
Wallace sat down with ESPN’s Ryan McGee. He’ll speak candidly about his personal upbringing as well as racial issues which he’s been vocal about in the past. Other topics of the special include Kyle Larson, who used a slur during an online race in 2020.
Fistful of Steel is produced by Mike Farrell, John Minton and Lauren Stowell.
Airing: The Rise of Bubba Wallace will air Tuesday, Dec. 14, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The program will be available for streaming via ESPN + and the ESPN app.
Related: NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace comments on Kyle Rittenhouse
Bubba Wallace
ESPN: Cast
People interviewed for the program:
Darrell Wallace Sr.
Wallace’s father
Desiree Wallace
Wallace’s mother
Brittany Gillispie
Wallace’s sister
Amanda Carter
Wallace’s fiancée
Steve Phelps
NASCAR President
Richard Petty
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and Wallace’s former race team owner
Ned Jarrett
NASCAR Hall of Fame driver
Jimmie Johnson
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion
Wendell Scott Jr.
Son of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Wendell Scott
Deborah Scott
Daughter of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Wendell Scott
Franklin Scott
Son of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Wendell Scott
Warrick Scott
Grandson of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Wendell Scott
Howard Bryant
ESPN senior writer
Related: 23XI Racing purchases $3.7 million in land
