Netflix docu-series ‘Race: Bubba Wallace’ wins Sports Emmy Award

The six-part docuseries Race: Bubba Wallace, which was released on Netflix in February 2022, has received a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary Series (serialized).

The six-part documentary followed Wallace's journey as the sole Black driver in NASCAR's Cup documentary when he used his voice to ban the Confederate flag from all events amid national cries for social justice. It also covers his quest for the first career win in NASCAR's top division.

Shortly after, Wallace was propelled into the international limelight. He launched his career on a path that would secure his status as a change agent while also ushering in broad changes to the perception and identity of NASCAR as a motorsport.

His advocacy in speaking out against injustices in the United States caught the attention of many corporate sponsors, as well as close friends with the star power of their own.

Bubba Wallace's mental health challenges are an important topic in addition to the societal issues addressed in the series. Wallace has also been open about his mental battle, telling reporters in 2019 that his on-track troubles only made it worse.

"You try to be the best you can and sometimes it ain't damn good enough," Wallace said during an interview.

Bubba Wallace became a part of 23XI Racing in 2021, a team co-owned by NBA legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin. That season, he became the second black driver to win in the NASCAR Cup Series. Since Wendell Scott in 1963, he was the first black driver to win in NASCAR's premier series.

The six-part series, created by 300 Studies, Boardwalk Productions, and NASCAR Productions, became available just two days after the season start for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Bubba Wallace won the Sports Emmy Award over four other documentaries, including Formula 1: Drive to Survive [Netflix], Coach Prime [Amazon Prime Video], Hard Knocks [HBO / HBO Max], and Last Chance U [Netflix].

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Bubba Wallace's radio frequency got intercepted during NASCAR All Star Race

Someone tapped into Bubba Wallace's No. 23 23XI Racing team radio channel with a slandering message just after he grabbed the checkered flag and finished second to Kyle Larson in the $1 million-to-the-winner event at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

"Go back to where you came from you a******. You’re not wanted in NASCAR,” the unknown person said.

A spokeswoman for 23XI Racing informed the media that Bubba Wallace, NASCAR's only full-time black driver, did not hear or understand the comments at the time. NASCAR authorities stated that its security operation is examining the incident to discover who and how accessed his radio channel.