Darrell Wallace Jr.

No. 54 Toyota
Joe Gibbs Racing / Kyle Busch Motorsports

Darrell Wallace Jr. got the bug for racing at age nine and has experienced great success along the way in go-karts, bandoleros, legends cars and late models. In 2010, Darrell was selected as part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program and got his start in stock car racing at the regional touring level. At his first career start at Greenville Pickens Speedway at age 16, Darrell became the youngest and first African American to win a race in NASCAR K&N series history and in track history. He went on to earn 2010 NASCAR K&N Series East Rookie of the Year honors. By collecting several East Series victories, Darrell finished third and second, respectively, in East Series points the past two years. Along the way, Darrell has garnered accolades and media attention, including being listed as one of five young drivers to watch in ESPN the Magazine’s special NEXT issue. Now a Drive for Diversity program alum, Darrell is charting is own course up the ranks of NASCAR as a development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing, who signed Darrell in 2009. With the support of one of the elite teams, and their manufacturer partner Toyota, Darrell is positioned to break even more barriers in the sport. Darrell impressed all with four top-12 finishes and one pole in four NASCAR Nationwide Series starts in 2012. For 2013, he is running a full NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule in the #54 Toyota. It looks like his career is now taking hold in stock car racing.

Career Highlights

Four top-12 finishes in 4 NASCAR Nationwide Series starts in 2012
One NASCAR Nationwide Series Pole (in 4th career start)
Named one of 25 and under drivers to watch in 2012 by FoxSports
Six wins, three poles in first 24 NASCAR K&N Series races
One of five young drivers to watch in ESPN the Magazine’s special NEXT issue
Member of NASCAR’s “Next 9” class in 2011 and 2012
Appeared in BET TV show “Changing Lanes” in 2010
Rookie of the Year in 2010 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East
Won his first start in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East in 2010
Youngest winner, and first African American, to win in K&N Series history
Member of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program 2010-11
Signed as Joe Gibbs Racing development driver in 2009
Three wins and 11 top fives in 23 Late Model races in 2009
Registered 11 wins and 34 top 10s in 38 Legends starts in 2006
Won 35 of 48 Bandoleros races entered in 2005

>> Click for career NASCAR stats.

Personal

Birthdate is Oct. 8, 1993…hometown is Mobile, Ala…resides in Concord N.C…goes by the nickname Bubba…enjoys playing basketball and paintball, and spends his free time honing his skills on iRacing, an online racing simulator…started racing at age 9.

I will tell you Darrell Wallace is a young African American driver that’s winning. He’s doing that now. We’re going to have a breakthrough in that area. It’s going to be on my watch, and I’ll be very proud of that when that occurs.” — Brian France, CEO of NASCAR

He has the “it” factor. He’s a well-spoken, good-looking young man who got an opportunity from Gibbs to prove his talent and has done so in lower series. Now he has gone and made some noise in the Nationwide Series … If Wallace were to win races at the national-series level, the impact on the industry would be incalculable, in my opinion. — Marty Smith, ESPN Insider