For those NASCAR fans who are on X/Twitter, Brad Perez is a name that is likely familiar, if you don't recognize him from his various starts throughout stock car racing. Bubba Wallace is helping Perez reach his funding goals, and is even asking others to chip in.
Brad Perez, 29, is a guy that has been trying to make the NASCAR dream work for years. He's put in time working for various teams in the garage doing everything and anything he can just to be part of the circus that is stock car racing.
Of course, Perez is a racer himself. When he makes his starts in the O'Reilly or Truck Series, many times they happen at road courses. Back in 2022, he drove a Reaume Brothers truck to P20 at COTA. He had success in Austin, Texas, once again in 2024 in the O'Reilly Series with Alpha Prime Racing, P18. But right now, he needs funding to make his 2026 season happen. Enter Wallace.
Wallace Donates, Calls on 3 Other NASCAR Greats for More Help
(Photo by Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Wallace responded to Perez's public announcement. The journeyman driver was trying to put together a deal to race the ARCA and O'Reilly races at Phoenix coming up. The O'Reilly deal fell through, but he's still trying to get rides for Martinsville, Charlotte, Darlington, and Kansas.
"I like Martinsville," Bubba Wallace responded on Tuesday morning. "I'm in for 15k. Let's get some more funds for my dawg here to go race!" Wallace then tagged Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Perez is one of those guys that everyone in the garage knows. He's worked hard to get the opportunities that he's had so far, and hopefully, with a little help from his Cup Series friends, he might get a few good rides this season.
NASCAR is such a great sport because of these stories. Yes, Michael Jordan is a team owner in the Cup Series. But then you have guys like Tommy Joe Martins who owns Alpha Prime Racing, and drivers like Perez who race for teams like this. They are scraping to get all the funding they can and still be competitive on the track.
I know I'm going to be cheering for Perez this season any time he's racing. Sometimes, all it takes is one race, one chance, and another door can open.