Kevin Harvick's Happy Hour presented by NASCAR on FOX - Bubba Wallace Interview following win at the Brickyard 400 | VICTORY LAP

Episode Date: July 28, 2025

On this week’s Victory Lap, Mamba Smith sits down with 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace. Fresh off his first win of the season at the Brickyard 400, Bubba breaks down what went through his head throughout the crucial moments of the race, the emotions behind his victory, and how special it was celebrating with his son. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's nothing like the first time winning in this industry and winning at the cuff level. It is so hard to do. Just to have the space and the opportunity and the house here to provide and celebrate as one team was really, really cool. What's going on, NASCAR Nation? Mamba Smith here filling in for Unk, Kevin Harvick, on the Victory Lab. This week, we got my boy, my dog, Bubba Wallace, the new crown jewel winner of the Brickyard. How we doing, my man? I'm all right

I'm tired You were you were part of the festivities Last night I didn't go hard But just still just trying to catch up Sunday was A race was a grueling race Obviously it was hot in the car

Not too bad but Just over time you're just fatigue So just going through all the motions right now Monday hasn't been too bad So it's been a lot of fun taking it all in It was a celebration of the ages, one that I felt was very overdue, and you could feel at your house all the emotion from everybody. It was just a really good time and being able to share that with

everybody. I know that means a lot to you. Yeah, for sure. I think, you know, I really thought about it as I was heading to bed last night at 3 a.m. I was, I was really, I found myself a lot of joy. I was talking with Shannon Spake earlier. I found myself a lot of joy. I found myself a lot of joy being able to provide an opportunity and host for people. I said in my speech last night that there were a lot of first timers. There's nothing like the first time winning in anything in life, but in this industry winning at the cup level, it is so hard to do. And we all understand that. But to have Charles get his first win, my interior guy, he said for eight years he's been in the industry, this is his first win in anything. So I thought,

that was really cool. There's a lot more first timers on the team. And so just to have the space and opportunity and the house here to provide a place for people just to let go and have fun and enjoy each other's company and celebrate as one team was was really, really cool. So that's what I enjoyed the most about last night. Not a bad way to have a housewarming party because I know no, you really had one. So it was a pretty good way. We haven't had one yet. No doubt, no doubt. Listen, man, I want to ask you a little bit about the race. You guys' strategy was on point, obviously. But when we got down to it and the rain came, what was going through your mind?

We talked earlier in that day when we did an interview together and you talked about restarts and how good you feel like you are in the restarts and how important those are to you. And then, lo and behold, that was what needed to be done at the end of the race. Yeah. Yeah, I had to put my money where my mouth was, right? You know, I think those last 20 laps and I didn't really know what the scenario was. When we fired off for stage three, we were fifth to seventh, I think, maybe a couple of spots worse, but somewhere right in that mix. And the 22 had peeled off for pit road and we pitted shortly after and came out right behind the 22 after our two tire stop.

And you go through those motions, right? and you just drive the car to the absolute best potential that you can. And, you know, over the radio, or before they come over the radio, I see the 5 and the 11 come out and we're ahead of them, the 45. We get ahead of them. And I'm like, all right, those guys are in front of us. Like, okay. I don't know what's going to shake out.

And they're like, hey, we think the 22 is going to shake out to the leader. You should be P2. So let's push. Well, I'm pushing with all I got. Now I'm getting loose. I'm getting free. The balance is fading. And I'm like, oh, man, this isn't going to be good.

Well, then he has the tire explode, tire pop. And I'm like, okay, at this point, I'm thinking there's like 60 laps left. I have no idea, right? We're just driving. And he's like, all right, you're a leader. 20 laps to go. And you're like, oh, oh, damn. Okay.

Okay, whoa, whoa, focus. Okay, make that corner. Oh, damn. All right, cool. and those those when did it when the caution come out with six to go 17 to go 17 well the brain came yeah yeah yeah so from lap 20 to go to six to go felt like 300 laps it was like oh my gosh and to make it all better uh but freddie you were around for this story last night Freddie comes over the radio and he's like, all right, man,

the 12 is just broke away from the pack. Need you to pick up the pace. And it all checks out because we often talk about how Blaney is so good on the long run everywhere we go, right? And I'm like, all right, it's going to be between me and him. Here we go. I knew I had a decent gap. I didn't know how big of a gap I had, but I couldn't see my own here. So we get going and caution comes out and I look and I'm like, well, damn,

The 12 is 22nd and the 5 is second. So I didn't question it at all. But then my mindset changed. I'm like, okay, it's me and Larson here. Both aggressive. We're both good at restart. It's like we got to put it on the line. And, you know, throughout that rain delay,

I was leaning more towards the side of just being on and ready. Never let my guard down. You know, Perk was there. The official was standing right in front of my car. I'm just trying to read his body language. I've seen you over there trying to communicate with him. And then Kavana gets on pit road. And I'm like, all right, what's happening?

Right? I'm seeing movement. Like, I do not want to win the race this way, but by God, if it happens, hey, we're winners, right? But I told myself, stay ready, stay ready. And I see things start to evolve. And it's like, okay, we're going back. The jet dryers come out. And so it was just going through all the checklist, going through all the things that you need to do.

to get yourself in the right spot. But I told myself immensely all day that this was our day. No one's going to take it from us. And, you know, if all, if I do my part and we are side by side on the restarts and end of one, there's no chance that he's getting by me. And here we are. It worked out. Yeah, man.

I told Craig during the delay, I said, look, it's got to be this way. You know what I mean? It's got to be gut wretched. Yeah. You know, because what the win represented, I think, for you. And I told some people after, I'm like, the guy that everyone used to see on his way up when he was winning truck races and Canaan races and having fun and the bubble with the smile. Yeah. You're all about to see that guy come back.

Yeah. Like that guy is, I'm telling you, this is going to unlock a whole new thing for him. And you could see it in Victory Lane. When you had the Simba moment with Bex. Yeah. Bex's Tony. That's right. Man, that was amazing.

I know that that must have hit different than any other win. Yeah, for sure. There's nothing like it. And, you know, once you settle your ass down, you'll probably have a kid or two, and you'll get to experience it. But, man, it's just the coolest thing. Having Amanda there, she's obviously been through the trenches and some with me. And now Beck's just, you know, he's 10 months tomorrow, which is so crazy.

he has no idea the roller coaster that he's going through right and it'll all be really cool to go back and share the memories with him when he's older old enough to understand um but yeah uh you know in those moments like during the red flag or actually during you know the last 15 laps before the rain came i thought about my son i thought about like you know i started overthinking the car right and then i would quickly go to my son and i would i would smile and and and and and refocus and that's that's the thing about having a kid like it allows you to escape the madness right you got to focus on him because he needs something 24-7 if he's not napping and so you focus on him in those moments where he's laughing and giggling and it's like a nice escape um and it allows you to kind reset the down right reset the clock and um and and and and re-rack him and go get it so uh definitely a really cool moment having them in victory lane and and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Kevin always talks about on the show your circle of life for a driver, your circle of life, having that circle connected and in all the right, the things in all the right places.

Yeah. And brother, it seems like that those things are all in the right place for you now. I'm so happy to watch you as a fan and as a friend. I'm so proud of you and appreciate you taking some time. I know you got a lot. This has been a media tour for you. So I know you have a lot of me appreciate you coming on with us. Yeah, absolutely. I appreciate you, Big Dog. Always appreciate the support. And, man, being locked in the playoffs now before the playoffs start,

dude, I told Charles, let's do some crazy stuff on Sunday in Iowa. Let's just go have fun. And so I'm looking forward to that. But I appreciate you. Thank you, homie.