NASCAR Buy or Sell: Can Darrell Wallace Jr. Be the Next Big Thing?

Darrell Wallace Jr. is set to make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend. Can he be the next big star at the top level?

This weekend at Pocono, Darrell Wallace Jr. will drive the No. 43 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. This will be Wallace’s debut at the Cup level. Wallace is currently in his third season driving for Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. But with Aric Almirola sidelined due to injury, Richard Petty called on Bubba to fill in for at least this week at Pocono. Will this opportunity be the start of something big in NASCAR?

Bubba Wallace can be the next big star in NASCAR: BUY

This question is not meant to predict wins and championships. Those are both hard to come by. Some drivers compete for years at the Cup level and never win a race. Only an elite group of drivers can call themselves champions.

With that being said, I do believe Wallace can and will have a successful career in this sport. At the young age of 23, Wallace has shown off his talents at the XFINITY Series and in the Truck Series. In two seasons racing for Kyle Busch Motorsports, Wallace won five Trucks races. He has not yet won at the XFINTY level, but he does have 34 top 10’s in 83 starts.

The NASCAR world knows Wallace is a talented young driver with loads of potential. But in a sport starved for superstars, Wallace stands out. He understands that being an African-American driver at this level is a huge step for NASCAR. Wallace embraces the fact that, if successful, he can open the sport up to a new demographic. Diversity needs to play a huge role in the resurgence of NASCAR, and Wallace could lead that charge.

Bubba Wallace could have a Danica Patrick effect on this sport. Not in terms of wins or lack thereof, but in popularity. Patrick entered this sport and immediately became a huge star because she was not your average driver. She was a polarizing figure breaking the barriers of gender in a male-dominated sport.

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The same will come with Bubba Wallace. A young African-American star in NASCAR is rare. But there is no doubt that after this stint in the No. 43, Wallace will be a hot commodity to fill rides on top teams within the next year or two. A few teams that come to mind with potential seats to fill are Stewart-Haas Racing if Patrick leaves and Hendrick Motorsports with Dale Earnhardt Jr. retiring and Kasey Kahne’s contract expiring. Those are both championship-caliber organizations who can set Wallace up for success.

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Wherever Bubba Wallace ends up when he does land a full-time ride, expect him to grow into a highly competitive driver. He is a future star who works hard and wants to be the best. It will surely be fun to watch his growth and to see what he can do to change the sport for the better.