Bubba Wallace Brings the NASCAR Party to the West Side

By J. Coyden Palmer July 6, 2024

The music was rocking, the aroma of the food was smelling good and the party was jumping at the 2nd ever Bubba Wallace Block Party held at Douglass Park on Chicago’s West Side July 5th. The event was part of NASCAR’s only Black driver attempt to have more community engagement and educate more people about the sport. Last year’s event was held at Washington Park on the city’s South Side.

“I’m glad to see all of the people who came out here tonight and now we have to transition this to seeing more people in the grandstands on race day,” said Wallace, the Charlotte, North Carolina native that is the home of NASCAR. “I’m doing these all over the country and I can see the difference we are making.”

Guests who attended the event had the opportunity to win tickets to Sunday’s race, which will be held throughout the streets of downtown Chicago. There were also discount codes available to give people 20% off of general admission tickets. Last year’s race had some success but many of the events surrounding the race had to be canceled due to poor weather. The forecast this year is much better so NASCAR and the city are hoping for better attendance.

Wallace admits the Chicago race is not his favorite style of racing as it is a street race. He is more comfortable being out on the oval track. But since the Chicago race does count towards NASCAR’s point series, you can expect him to be trying to win the race like every other driver.

“There are different techniques you must use in this style of race,” said Wallace, in responding to a question from the audience. “This race you have several turns you must navigate correctly. If you are off by just a few inches, you can wind up in a crash and be eliminated from the race. The turns are what make the difference when you are going nearly 100 miles per hour through them.”

Wallace walked through the crowd during the event and took pictures and answered questions from curious attendees. Many said they had never seen a NASCAR race in their lives, but came out because it was something unique to do on a Friday night.

“I brought my kids to see the race car and learn for myself what NASCAR was all about,” said Amina Robinson, who was there with her three kids. “I think they really liked the driving simulator more than anything else. It was like a video game for them but only more realistic.”

In addition to the simulator, another popular station at the event was meeting and watching Wallace’s pit crew in action. Racing is a team sport and every driver says their pit crew often makes the difference in how well they do on the track. Wallace’s crew is filled with many former athletes who then found work changing tires, filling the gas tank and jacking up the car in a matter of seconds to get Wallace back on the track.

“Man, that was a lot of work,” Adams told Jcoydenreports afterwards. “That is not an easy job so I can only imagine how hard it is during an actual race when time is of the essence. You have to be in great shape and I would say the people who do this job are truly athletes.”

Sunday’s race is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. The race will air live on NBC. The inaugural race last year was won by New Zealand driver Shane van Gisbergen, who entered the race at the last minute and only had a part-time crew. The win changed his life forever he said.

“No one thought we would come out and win that race,” van Gisbergen told Motorsport. “That feeling when the radio cracks open and the engineer or crew chief comes over, screaming about how exciting the win was, and that short-term spike of emotions you get—it's hard to explain, but it's an amazing feeling.”

Gisbergen’s win fit right in with the race’s theme; it was the first time in 60 years a driver won in his NASCAR debut and it was in NASCAR’s debut event in Chicago.