Wallace respects sport's past, works to improve his team's future
By Lee Montgomery - Associate Editor
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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Kenny Wallace just can’t help himself. The brain of the talkative driver sometimes moves way too fast for the ideas in his head.
By the time one idea is processed and released into sound through Wallace’s mouth, more ideas spill out.
The full-time Nationwide Series driver and part-time television commentator was asked recently if there were one or two memories that stand out more than others over his long career in NASCAR.
For a guy who has won as much and has seen as much as Wallace, of course there are one or two. Or more.
“I will never forget … there are two things,” Wallace said. “Well, there are three things. I just keep thinking.”
And he keeps talking. And thinking. And talking some more. If ever there was a driver perfect for TV, it’s Kenny Wallace.
But he’s far from done with his driving career, and he wants everyone to know about it. Driving comes first, and he’ll be happy to tell anyone who listens exactly that.
Wallace returned to NASCAR’s No. 2 series this year, starting the 2008 season with Fitz Motorsports. Fitz was expanding to two teams, and Wallace would join Mike Bliss on what looked like a solid independent team.
But sponsorship money dried up, and Wallace was left without a job – for about a day. Jay Robinson Racing came calling, and Wallace kept going.
“Right now, with my race team, I promised myself that I would never be happy with 15th,” Wallace said. “I think we are overachieving. We’re taking a team that was thought of us a backmarker team. We’re upgrading every week, and we’re getting better.
“I will never run enough races that I will just run in the back. I joined Jay Robinson Racing because I felt like we could take this team with our new sponsor and upgrade it. We’re getting better every week.”
Wallace realizes his best days are behind him, and he remembers them fondly. The three things he mentioned? 1. His first race in the No. 2 series; 2. His pole at Daytona to kick off his first full season; 3. His first victory.
Wallace worked on his older brother Rusty’s race team when he started driving in the American Speed Association.
“I will never forget for as long as I live that Dale Earnhardt gave me my very first Nationwide ride,” Wallace said. “It was at Martinsville, and I sat in his old bucket seat, and I said, ‘Dale, I can’t drive this.’ He said, ‘Well, go get your old ASA seat.’
“I’ll never forget coming from Charlotte to Kannapolis, N.C., and there I was. Tony Eury Sr. met me there and put my seat in Dale Earnhardt’s car.”
Wallace finished 11th in that race in the No. 8 GM Goodwrench car and won $650.
Rusty Wallace then started a team for his little brother, and Kenny immediately showed speed in the No. 36 Pontiac.
“I will never forget as long as I live – it was like yesterday – sitting on the pole in my very first time ever at Daytona,” Wallace said. “Quick time, 1989: 192.730 mph, buddy. I ran a 46.70.
“I was invited to be on Eli Gold’s show on MRN Radio. I said, ‘Man, I made it!’”
Maybe, but there was more work to be done. Wallace ran well at times but couldn’t break through with a victory. At Volusia County Speedway in Barberville, Fla., in 1992, Wallace qualified 13th.
“I remember thinking 13th was an unlucky number,” Wallace said. “I won the race. My wife came up to me in victory lane, and I gave her a hug. I’ll never forget this: I said, ‘Well, it’s finally over.’
“I had gone to the big-time right away. I had never started in any local divisions. I ran ASA right away in ’87, ‘87 and ’88. And I went to the Nationwide Series in ’89, ’90, ’91. Hell, I went quite a while without winning because I went to the big-time right away.
“When I won that race at Volusia, it proved to me that I belonged.”
He’s been in NASCAR ever since, competing in all three national series. He recently made his 400th start in what is now known as the Nationwide Series, and upon reflecting on his career said he respects “nostalgia” and the drivers who made the series he still races in.
“I respect Jack Ingram. I respect Sam Ard, Tommy Ellis and Tommy Houston,” Wallace said. “Those are the guys that molded me. They taught me how to race. I was so lucky that I came into the Nationwide Series in 1988-89 because I was able to race the great ones. I was able to race the guys that started this deal.
“When I came here, I would finish in the top five and the race would be over and every part of my car would be destroyed and I would almost win. We would run Hickory, South Boston, Orange County and Myrtle Beach.
“I do look back. I always respect the past. … When I first moved from St. Louis, they said the first thing I needed to do was make friends with Jack Ingram, and that’s what I did. In ’89, we’d run all of our shows one-day shows. When we would get in the garage area, the first thing I would do was go down to Jack and help him unload his car. I’d sit around Jack for a half-hour and just talk to him.”
Yes, Kenny Wallace once did the listening.
My, how times have changed.
By the time one idea is processed and released into sound through Wallace’s mouth, more ideas spill out.
The full-time Nationwide Series driver and part-time television commentator was asked recently if there were one or two memories that stand out more than others over his long career in NASCAR.
For a guy who has won as much and has seen as much as Wallace, of course there are one or two. Or more.
“I will never forget … there are two things,” Wallace said. “Well, there are three things. I just keep thinking.”
And he keeps talking. And thinking. And talking some more. If ever there was a driver perfect for TV, it’s Kenny Wallace.
But he’s far from done with his driving career, and he wants everyone to know about it. Driving comes first, and he’ll be happy to tell anyone who listens exactly that.
Wallace returned to NASCAR’s No. 2 series this year, starting the 2008 season with Fitz Motorsports. Fitz was expanding to two teams, and Wallace would join Mike Bliss on what looked like a solid independent team.
But sponsorship money dried up, and Wallace was left without a job – for about a day. Jay Robinson Racing came calling, and Wallace kept going.
“Right now, with my race team, I promised myself that I would never be happy with 15th,” Wallace said. “I think we are overachieving. We’re taking a team that was thought of us a backmarker team. We’re upgrading every week, and we’re getting better.
“I will never run enough races that I will just run in the back. I joined Jay Robinson Racing because I felt like we could take this team with our new sponsor and upgrade it. We’re getting better every week.”
Wallace realizes his best days are behind him, and he remembers them fondly. The three things he mentioned? 1. His first race in the No. 2 series; 2. His pole at Daytona to kick off his first full season; 3. His first victory.
Wallace worked on his older brother Rusty’s race team when he started driving in the American Speed Association.
“I will never forget for as long as I live that Dale Earnhardt gave me my very first Nationwide ride,” Wallace said. “It was at Martinsville, and I sat in his old bucket seat, and I said, ‘Dale, I can’t drive this.’ He said, ‘Well, go get your old ASA seat.’
“I’ll never forget coming from Charlotte to Kannapolis, N.C., and there I was. Tony Eury Sr. met me there and put my seat in Dale Earnhardt’s car.”
Wallace finished 11th in that race in the No. 8 GM Goodwrench car and won $650.
Rusty Wallace then started a team for his little brother, and Kenny immediately showed speed in the No. 36 Pontiac.
“I will never forget as long as I live – it was like yesterday – sitting on the pole in my very first time ever at Daytona,” Wallace said. “Quick time, 1989: 192.730 mph, buddy. I ran a 46.70.
“I was invited to be on Eli Gold’s show on MRN Radio. I said, ‘Man, I made it!’”
Maybe, but there was more work to be done. Wallace ran well at times but couldn’t break through with a victory. At Volusia County Speedway in Barberville, Fla., in 1992, Wallace qualified 13th.
“I remember thinking 13th was an unlucky number,” Wallace said. “I won the race. My wife came up to me in victory lane, and I gave her a hug. I’ll never forget this: I said, ‘Well, it’s finally over.’
“I had gone to the big-time right away. I had never started in any local divisions. I ran ASA right away in ’87, ‘87 and ’88. And I went to the Nationwide Series in ’89, ’90, ’91. Hell, I went quite a while without winning because I went to the big-time right away.
“When I won that race at Volusia, it proved to me that I belonged.”
He’s been in NASCAR ever since, competing in all three national series. He recently made his 400th start in what is now known as the Nationwide Series, and upon reflecting on his career said he respects “nostalgia” and the drivers who made the series he still races in.
“I respect Jack Ingram. I respect Sam Ard, Tommy Ellis and Tommy Houston,” Wallace said. “Those are the guys that molded me. They taught me how to race. I was so lucky that I came into the Nationwide Series in 1988-89 because I was able to race the great ones. I was able to race the guys that started this deal.
“When I came here, I would finish in the top five and the race would be over and every part of my car would be destroyed and I would almost win. We would run Hickory, South Boston, Orange County and Myrtle Beach.
“I do look back. I always respect the past. … When I first moved from St. Louis, they said the first thing I needed to do was make friends with Jack Ingram, and that’s what I did. In ’89, we’d run all of our shows one-day shows. When we would get in the garage area, the first thing I would do was go down to Jack and help him unload his car. I’d sit around Jack for a half-hour and just talk to him.”
Yes, Kenny Wallace once did the listening.
My, how times have changed.
- Mentioned Drivers:
- Kenny Wallace
Comments
16 responses to "Wallace respects sport's past, works to improve his team's future"
Anonymous said:
Jul 17, 2008 at 2:27 PMgood story on Kenny !!! coulda woulda shoulda In the right ride he may have been more but it just wasnt meant to be
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» Confirm Abuse ReportSunday Money said:
Jul 17, 2008 at 6:31 PMKenny Wallace talks a lot, but he also talks respective of everyone. I get a kick just seeing him on TV. He makes my day. I love the way he compliments his wife. That is just special. Kenny must be a trip to live with; I know there is never a dull moment in his home. I think he is a good guy and I know much more success is in store for him.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMark Ernst said:
Jul 17, 2008 at 7:38 PMWhat a joke. The Wallace family are losers.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportAnonymous said:
Jul 17, 2008 at 10:43 PMkenny herman wallace you say alot you drive a very clean car when the race is over you never have to go and tell someone your sorry ,your one good dude hope you never change and kim is one very nice lady glad to call her a friend thank you for the years of good racing. jim from n.y.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportanonymous said:
Jul 18, 2008 at 10:20 AMLosers says Mark Ernst. Last I looked the Wallace name was in the books for a Cup championship, 55 career cup victories and $50 million in earings, 1984 Rookie of the year. That's just Rusty. Brother Mike and Kenny haven't had the quality ride that Rusty had but they have had successes too. Kenny was the 1989 Rookie of the year. Mike has won in both truck and busch series. When you win races, you're a winner. When you have a family that loves and supports you, you're a winner.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMark Ernst said:
Jul 18, 2008 at 9:56 PMHow much did Jeff,Jimmime or Earnhardt Jr make in just the last two years? Sure the money is higher but it cost more. Rusty has always acted like he is better then anyone. His son thought he could get by with it and found out real fast he wasnt his dad. Kenny has probably got the short stick out of all of them. He is smart and brings out the humor when he talks. One Championship and 55 wins is a amount of success in the cars they drove. But that wont change my opinion.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportJohn Lockhart said:
Jul 19, 2008 at 11:19 AMWow!Mark, how about showing a little repect. You may not like the Wallaces,but thier great drivers and have been in NASCAR longer than you probably been alive.And have done more for the sport than most.I like the heck out Kenny,I would love to spend a racing weekend just hanging around him.My sides would probably hurt for awhile.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjerry swiatek said:
Jul 19, 2008 at 2:21 PMWell Mark, here is the deal, Rusty and Dad Russ raced at my hometrack of Tri City Speedway, Granite City IL. across from St Louis Mo, there home town,they won a lot and had to usually fight thier way out of the track, they put more work and brains into cars than anyone, Kenny was boy sitted a lot by Schrader, who was about the best sprint driver in the midwest,(he taught me a lesson on the track)Mike had a tragedy in his life that I won't go into(too sad), he is now a person that helps other drivers and crews work throught them, Kenny is a handful of joy but not the short end of the stick, they are all winners, Steve will come around, Don't think all has been rose's for them, It has been a lot tougher than the Gordons or Johnsons, Rusty is only guilty of always being hands on with crew chiefs and engineers
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMark Ernst said:
Jul 19, 2008 at 5:33 PMI will make sure i explain what i write in the future. I've been watching Nascar sice the late seventies. Didn't like how Dale Sr drove at first,but i became a full time fan at the start of the 82 season. All of you have brought out good information. I should respect the driver or not say anything bad about them.
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» Confirm Abuse Reportjerry swiatek said:
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:00 PMWhen my sons were 8&10 go kart champions already, I had official connections and got in the garages and pit row, Dale Sr. went out of his way to take pictures and sign autographs wit them At Qualifying at Daytona one year he spotted my 8yr old in awe over him and his car, He waved him over and said are you going to just stand there or can you help us push this car up to qualify, my son about fell over grinning ear to ear, odly my wife and other son were way up in the stands and they could't believe what they saw.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRex Lee said:
Jul 21, 2008 at 3:27 PMHey Mark Ernst. Your off the hook!!!You sure can't put ole' Dink Jr.[that would be Earnhardt] in his dads seat. Steve is a hard nosed kid just like his grandfather,dad,and his two uncles are. The apple didn't roll out from under that tree.You must have had some kind of horrible life or something to talk like that about a real racing family like that.Don't forget about Crissy, Mikes daughter,slam her to. She drives as hard as those boys do.Usualy I'd be all over a cat like you, but you're not worth it.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMarie Edwards said:
Jul 21, 2008 at 6:00 PMI got the chance to meet both Rusty and Mike Wallace. And they are wonderful as people. You can literally pull up a chair and talk to them. They don't act like they're better than everyone. I know about Mike's tragedy too. But as far as I am concerned, only losers put people down. Win or lose, knowing you gave it your all you finish a CHAMPION.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMarie Edwards said:
Jul 21, 2008 at 6:01 PMBesides, I hate to say this, I do like Jeff, Jimmie, Dale Jr (when his father was alive, him too), Rusty, Carl--ok, a LOT of drivers. Sponsors want YOUTH. Youth sells. It's all about the money. Right now Kasey Kahne has made more money than Dale Jr. You wanna know why? Hello? He's got Budweiser. The bigger the sponsor the bigger the paychecks.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMarie Edwards said:
Jul 21, 2008 at 6:05 PMSteve will come around. Besides, not many people know this, he does a "disability". But, it doesn't stop him from trying to race. He will get there. Some champions are not born over night. Others need time to develop. There is a lot of good talent out there, and some of those in the Sprint can whip the pants off those in the Nationwide series. That's another article though.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportRex Lee said:
Jul 22, 2008 at 1:17 PMHey' I got a good one to tell you on Rusty. When he was about 16 up in Springfield Missouri at the fairgrounds speedway, He won maybe what was his first "big race". He gets the checkerd flag and takes off for the victory lap.He's waving the flag going down the backstretch and runs into the wall at the end of it. Didn't even turn the steering wheel. His Dad said "I don't know made him do that, but it don't matter I'm gonna' kill him anyway!!" Hay...hay... man Rusty ain't never gonna' live that one down!!!! Hey Mark Ernst. Your brain is stuck on stupid. Somebody should poor a quart of cheap transmission fluid up your nose to get it un-stuck.
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» Confirm Abuse ReportMarie Edwards said:
Jul 31, 2008 at 10:49 AMYeah, Rex I remember reading about that as his most embarrassing moment. At least he didn't do it again :)
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