Imagine flying, but not flying alone, fighting but not fighting alone, and winning but not winning alone. And that’s how most partnerships look in NASCAR. Good sponsors are like the wind beneath your wings, and who knows it better than the drivers? This year, some have lost decades-long sponsors and are now looking for replacements, while others have gained back sponsors and are now talking about loyalty. And, truth be told, what’s even this sport if not about intense moves between teams by members, sponsors, owners, you name it – in, out, and all over the place?

But, this story is a good story. Well, mostly. Bubba Wallace is having the time of his life with this sponsor and cannot wait to go the extra mile for them to return the favor.

Bubba Wallace Aiming High with the USAF

There is one case scenario, where the driver flies and the sponsor also flies, literally. And, that’s the team of Bubba Wallace and the United States Air Force. In Jan this year, 23XI revealed that they would be their primary sponsors for number 23 Toyota, and as social media would tell you, he has made the most of it. From driving the SRTVs to using military equipment, skydiving, and participating in high stakes operations drills, he is doing it all and one might say, living it up.

Even in the latest 23XI Instagram reel, Bubba Wallace can be seen exclaiming how he is having a great time at the Air Force National Guard Base in Charlotte, “It was a good day, learned a lot. It’s cool to see all the different avenues of what the Air Force does. And, it’s special. I am proud to be a part of it. Appreciate them for coming on board and becoming a part of our family.” This and the caption make us believe that the sponsorship is set to continue. “Fly, fight, win–it’s what unites us. This year’s partnership with the U.S. Air Force pushed us to new heights, and we’re ready to carry the momentum into next season. Let’s #AimHigh,” the caption reads.

An interesting bit of information here might be that Bubba’s association with the USAF is older than 2024. They sponsored him for eight Cup races between 2018 and 2020. As you might have guessed, that was the time when he raced for Richard Petty.

It’s worth noting here that The USAF did not sponsor Bubba from 2020 to 2024. But, when it did come back, Bubba said on the 23XI website, it speaks of loyalty. He also said that the team must do what it can to help the USAF, “For them, it is about recruiting numbers and getting men and women into service and I think that we can move the needle in a big way with the relationship that we have, the things that we do on and off the track.“

At the Würth 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover in April, Bubba drove his car painted in a theme inspired by The Flying Tigers who flew between 1941 to 1942 during WWII. It was in honor of the A-10 Thunderbolt. Additionally, the names of four Vietnam War veterans were also on the hood of the car.

Additionally, it might be worth knowing that the paint job was done in collaboration with Xfinity, a telecommunications company, and the U.S. Air Force. During the race, Xfinity aired an advertisement featuring four veterans to honor Military Appreciation Month, celebrated in May. Former Senator John McCain proposed a month-long observance to recognize military personnel in 1999, with Congress ultimately passing the law in April of that same year.

Bubba on Going the Extra Mile  for Air Force

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If we just focus on Bubba Wallace’s performance and mindset, here is what we know. At the start of the 2024 season, Bubba Wallace had shown a confident and aggressive approach to the point that it seemed that the driver was upbeat. At the Daytona Speedweek, he said that his outlook is “really good, the best I have felt mentally.“

However, it won’t be off the mark to say that it was a disappointing season for Wallace. First, he missed the playoffs of the year. Second, he had already failed to win anything in the 26-race regular season. And, what the two things translated to was him not being able to qualify either way. But, it might be good to remember that Wallace already has several series wins. Each time, he raced for 23XI, the team that signed him again.

In September this year, Jordan Bianchi wrote for the New York Times on why it makes sense for 23XI to sign Bubba again, “They have a driver in Wallace who is both talented and personable. The kind of driver sponsors want to be associated with, which has helped propel 23XI into becoming one of NASCAR’s best organizations that continues to raise its overall performance.”

However, the end of 2024 was a period to forget for Bubba Wallace. As the Chevys helped out William Byron towards the final leg of the race, Wallace seemingly attempted to aid Toyota teammate Christopher Bell. While the team picked up a massive penalty, they made their intentions clear on appealing the punishment.