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Boating With Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr.

NASCAR driver enjoys his pontoon boat.
Bubba Wallace at the helm
Bubba Wallace is as commanding at the helm as he is at the racetrack. Courtesy South Bay Pontoons

What do you get when you put an exciting young (24-year-old) racecar driver on a South Bay pontoon boat? We caught up with Bubba Wallace to find out.

Did you grow up boating in North Carolina?

No. The only time I ever went on a boat was when I visited my uncle in Mobile, Alabama. I remember riding his jet skis.

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Bubba Wallace at the dock
NASCAR pro Bubba Wallace finds boating,”relaxing.” Courtesy South Bay Pontoons

When did you start racing?

I started racing go-carts when I was nine. I just kept going and racing in every circuit as I got older and better, and now I’m with Richard Petty in the Cup Series.

How did you wind up with a pontoon boat?

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South Bay is a partner of my racing team. I’d never had any desire to live by the water or own a boat, and then I went out on the lake [where I now live] and we found a rope swing in a cove where lots of boats raft up for the day. It was really cool.

Read Next: On Board With: Brian Scott NASCAR Driver

Bubba Wallace on the lake
Even sports greats get casual and throw a wave while boating! Courtesy South Bay Pontoons

How does driving a ‘toon compare to your race car?

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You go from 200 mph to 34 mph, so it’s a nice stress reliever. The first time I took it out, I cruised around all day at 20 mph and it was so relaxing.


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