"We're starting to rekindle" - Bubba Wallace Jr. on how his Netflix docu-series has affected his relationship with his father

Race Bubba Wallace Jr., a docu-series on Netflix starring 23XI drivers, has been the talk of the town since its release. In the six-episode docu-series, Wallace Jr. covers different topics in each episode.

Most of his family members as well as friends, including NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, are featured in the docu-series. However, his father is nowhere to be seen, but one of the episodes in the docu-series discloses the story behind his absence, citing that he refused to feature in his son’s docu-series.

This obviously showed the rough relationship between Wallace Jr. and his father, Darrell Wallace Sr. CBS posted a video to Twitter in 2020 where his father discussed the racing history of Wallace Jr.

However, the narrative seems to be changing as the two are starting to get along well. In a recent interview with CBS, the driver of Toyota No. 23 for 23XI Racing stated that the release of Race Bubba Wallace Jr. had a positive impact on his relationship with his father.

“To be honest with you, the docu-series just came out, and shortly after I received a text message from my father, a very positive text message, that surprised me, but my family and I were praying for it. So I think we’re starting to rekindle.”

Though, Wallace Jr. admitted there is a lot to be done, he believes things are now improving. The interview clearly shows how the driver is longing for his father’s presence after years of disagreements.

Darrell Wallace Sr. played a crucial role in his son’s successful career. For 15 years of Bubba’s racing career, his dad was always beside him. Up to date, he still attributes his success to his father.

The relationship between Bubba Wallace Jr. and his family

However, their relationship fractured a few years ago following a dispute that led to verbal arguments and eventually a physical confrontation.

According to Bubba Wallace Jr., his parents were having problem after problem before going their separate ways. Bubba Wallace Jr. had decided not to interfere with their fights, however, his mother confessed to an incident that triggered him to fight his dad.

During a certain interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr. on his podcast Dale Jr. Downloaded in 2019, Bubba Wallace Jr. stated what happened, saying:

“The light switch went off, I got in my truck and went over and fought my dad, like swinging fists, just did before I thought. A physical altercation. For 15 years of racing, it was me and him. And then that day, that was it.”

The disagreement between Wallace Sr. and Wallace Jr. started a long time ago. In 2018 Garage Pass posted on Twitter on how Wallace Jr. recalled fighting his dad.

Signs point towards the notion that their relationship is improving, though, and hopefully they will continue in that direction.