Rusty Wallace News Rumors
See Also: Rusty Wallace Biography
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
USfidelis owes Rusty Wallace $500k: KMOX News has learned bankrupt car warranty company USfidelis owes the company owned by former NASCAR champ Rusty Wallace more than half a million dollars. USfidelis was once a primary sponsor of Rusty Wallace Racing’s number 66. U-Sfidelis filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy Monday. The company recently stopped selling auto service contracts in the wake of a state investigation and lawsuits by consumers. (KMOX)
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Wallace may go Cup racing in 2010: NASCAR Nationwide Series car owner Rusty Wallace said he hopes to move his two-car team to the Sprint Cup Series in 2010. But the situation would have to be perfect. Rusty Wallace Racing fields two Chevrolets, for Brendan Gaughan and Rusty’s son, Steve, in the Nationwide Series. “Ideally, if all the moons lined up, I’d start in 2010,” Wallace said at Nashville Superspeedway, where the Nashville 300 will be held Saturday. “Two cars. I’d want Stephen and Brendan to go right in.” (SceneDaily.com)
June 22, 2007
Wallace Cruise will set sail Dec. 1st: Gentlemen -- and ladies -- start your engines: At long last, Carnival Cruise Lines has announced its next "Rusty Wallace Cruise." The NASCAR-themed sailings are hugely popular (this is the seventh one!) and the most requested among Cruise Critic readers. The 2007 "Rusty Wallace Cruise" will set sail December 1, 2007 on the 102,000-ton, 2,758-passenger Carnival Triumph; the seven-day itinerary includes calls at Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk. (Cruise Critic)
June 22, 2006:
R. Wallace to host NASCAR Angels: Rusty Wallace will host "NASCAR Angels," a reality TV show that will begin airing this fall, according to Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Daily. The show, which will feature top NASCAR competitors showing deserving families a look behind the scenes of NASCAR, is scheduled to debut Sept. 12 on various networks, including ABC. (NASCAR Scene Daily)
June 2, 2006:
Rusty Wallace adds the Kia brand to dealership family: Although Rusty Wallace’s legendary NASCAR driving career may be over, he is far from retired. Rusty’s latest business venture has seen he and longtime business partner Ray Huffaker add a sixth automotive dealership to their collection. Rusty Wallace Kia, formerly known as Harry Lane Kia, is now open for business in Alcoa, TN, just five minutes south of Knoxville. “We’ve been looking at Kia for quite some time now. Ray and I have talked to many Kia dealers, all of whom say that Kia has been a very good partner for them,” noted Wallace, “With Kia just announcing plans to build their first ever U.S. manufacturing plant and the all-new Kia Sedona earning a five-star crash rating from the U.S. Government, Ray and I felt that the time was right to make a move.” Rusty Wallace Kia joins five other automotive dealerships throughout Eastern Tennessee in comprising the Rusty Wallace Family of Dealerships. Among those dealerships are Rusty Wallace Toyota and Rusty Wallace Honda. Wallace sees a strong parallel between Kia and those two brands. (RWI Racing)
May 25, 2006:
Another Wallace in Cup? Stephen Wallace told Sirius Speedway that he is working to schedule a handful of Nextel Cup starts with his father's Rusty Wallace, Inc., team. "I've been beating it into my father's head 365 days a year to do something," said Wallace. "I've got him about 90-percent there, and I think we'll have some kind of announcement soon."
(Sirius Satellite Radio)
May 7, 2006:
Motorsports Seminar: "Up to Speed" will provide updates on the latest in the motorsports industry from retired NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, Lowe's Motor Speedway President H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler and UNC Charlotte Chancellor Phil Dubois. The seminar will be 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 21 in the Time Warner Media Center at Lowe's Motor Speedway on U.S. 29 in Concord. The seminar costs $50 for Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce members and $75 for others. Seating is limited to 150 people. Details: (704) 782-2000, ext. 26, or www.cabarruschamber.org.
April 27, 2006:
Rusty Wallace to take a few laps around Iowa Speedway: The Iowa Speedway is getting it's first test today. NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace will take the very first spin around the track, even though construction is still going on. Wallace is one of the designers of the track. The first race is scheduled for September 15th as part of the USAC Silver Crown Series. You can buy season tickets starting May 6th and individual tickets go on sale in July. (WHO-TV)
March 25, 2006:
Wallace not testing COT at Bristol, instead Martinsville: Rusty Wallace will get back into a NASCAR Cup car at Martinsville Speedway, but it will only be for a test session for the series' car of the future. Wallace had hoped to take part in NASCAR's test of the new car Monday at Bristol. Wallace said that he'll instead be at ESPN's studios Monday and Tuesday for meetings. Wallace will serve as an ABC/ESPN analyst for Indy Racing League events this season before moving over to help the network broadcast NASCAR events next year. Wallace said he'll take part in the car of tomorrow test the Monday after the Martinsville Cup race. He said the idea came about after NASCAR President Mike Helton suggested it. Wallace has seven career victories at Martinsville, the last in 2004. (News-Record)
March 19, 2006:
R. Wallace to test COT: Rusty Wallace has been asked by NASCAR officials to help with the development of the new car. Wallace is scheduled to drive one at an upcoming Bristol test session scheduled for March 27, the day after the Nextel Cup race. (Yahoo! Sports)
Mar. 6, 2006:
Wallace's to be featured on Biography Channel's "NASCAR Driven to win": Each racing season, millions of NASCAR aficionados tune in to America’s #1 motorsport. They revel in the pure adrenaline and drama generated by drivers and machines being pushed to their absolute limits. On March 8, The Biography Channel gets behind the wheel of an exciting and original new series produced in conjunction with NASCAR Images, “NASCAR Driven to Win.” Offering up-close-and-personal profiles of some of the racing circuit’s most popular young drivers, the series delivers an “under-the-hood” glimpse of life both on-and-off the track. Comprised of 13 half-hour episodes, “NASCAR Driven to Win” will debut new World Premiere episodes each Wednesday during March at 10pm ET/9pm CT/11pm PT. The series launches with the premieres of Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch (10:30pm ET/9:30pm CT/11:30pm PT); March 15 revs up with a premiere of Carl Edwards (10:00pm ET/9:00pm CT/11:00pm PT). Rusty and Steve Wallace’s episode will debut Wednesday March 22nd at 10:00pm ET / 9:00pm CT / 11:00pm PT on Biography Channel. It will feature exclusive interviews with several members of the Wallace racing family, including Rusty, Steve, Kenny, Mike, Greg and Katie Wallace. (RWI Racing PR)
Mar. 2, 2006:
R. Wallace test IRL car: 1989 NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace prepared for his role as a television analyst for ABC Sports and ESPN’s coverage of the IRL IndyCar® Series by driving a Honda-powered Dallara prepared by Team Penske at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “I tell you what, I gotta get one of these at home,” Wallace said. “I had a good time. I feel like I need to breathe a little while and then try it again. I need to talk to Penske about running a third car at Indy. You never know.” Wallace ran eight laps on the 2.21-mile road course. He said wanted to drive the car to experience the same thing that IndyCar Series drivers face each week. “I’m just here to see how the car accelerates and brakes. That’s it,” he said. “My goal is for when I start to talk about it, I can say ‘I’ve done that, and that’s what I feel.” Wallace said he plans to drive the Indy Experience two-seater at each IndyCar Series event to relate the unique challenges of each track. “I’m going to be doing it all year long in the two-seater,” he said. “I don’t know if you’ll see me in this car. Next time, I want to get the comfort zone a little better.” (IRL PR)
Feb. 10, 2006:
R. Wallace to be honored: Rusty Wallace will be named “Missouri Sports Legend” during the February 12th Missouri Sports Hall of Fame’s annual Enshrinement Banquet and Ceremonies in Springfield, MO. Over 1,600 people are scheduled to attend the event, which is the largest annual sports banquet held in the state of Missouri. Inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, Wallace will be receiving the highest level of recognition that the Hall of Fame bestows upon select members. Since the establishment of this award, the following individuals have been recognized: Stan Musial, Len Dawson, Payne Stewart, Jack Buck, Norm Stewart, Bob Broeg, Don Faurot, John Q. Hammons, Buck O’Neil, George Brett, Hank Stram, Lamar Hunt, and Red Schoendienst. Wallace will be the 14th Missouri Sports Legend. In addition, the Hall of Fame will induct 14 individuals from diverse sports backgrounds, including: St. Louis Cardinals manager, Tony La Russa, Kansas City Royals’ all-time saves leader, Jeff Montgomery and Bob Chandler, the creator of “BIGFOOT – The original Monster Truck”, to name a few. (RWI Racing PR)
Feb. 9, 2006:
R. Wallace to continue Carnival cruise: Carnival Cruise Lines’ and NASCAR Nextel Cup champion Rusty Wallace have teamed up again for another "Rusty Wallace Cruise" -- this time with a seven-day voyage aboard the Carnival Pride in December 2006. The week-long cruise will operate round trip from Long Beach, Calif., Dec. 3-10, 2006. Featured ports include Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Carnival’s "Rusty Wallace Cruises" began in 2001 and over the years more than 6,500 racing fans have enjoyed opportunities to meet and interact with the stock car racing legend, who retired from the active circuit late last year. "Carnival’s ‘Rusty Wallace Cruises’ are among the most popular theme voyages in cruising and we’re delighted that Rusty has agreed to continue the series, this year aboard the Carnival Pride," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO. Commented Rusty Wallace, "My affiliation with Carnival has been such a success and I’m very excited to be on board again this year. Although I am out of the Number 2 Miller Lite driver’s seat, my fans have supported new endeavors such as the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona with sponsor Callaway Golf, my Busch series racing team sponsored by Top-Flite Golf and my latest gig as a broadcaster for ABC/ESPN. I really enjoy meeting fans and I hope this upcoming voyage on the Carnival Pride will allow me to give back some of the appreciation they have shown throughout my career." (RWI PR)
Jan. 22, 2006:
Wallace in Iowa to thank area people: NASCAR legend and 1989 series champion Rusty Wallace will make an appearance at the Fort Dodge Opera House Tuesday night. Wallace, one of the creators of the new Iowa Speedway located in Newton, is coming to town as part of a promotional tour thanks to Fort Dodge businessman and race car enthusiast Larry Clement. Clement has strong ties with the Newton track and Wallace as a part of the investment group U.S. Motorsport Corp., which is backing the new project. Clement also owns the ARCA RE/MAX series car driven by seven-time circuit champion Frank Kimmel. Tuesday’s festitivites will be open to the public starting at approximately 7 p.m. (The Messenger)
Jan. 20, 2006:
Wallace to audition for Disney's networks: Don’t look now, but the IRL’s television broadcast team is about to get a new face. Actually, it figures to be an old one. Auditioning as Autoweek went to press was retiring NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace, who appears to be prepping for a switch to the Nextel Cup announcers booth when ABC and ESPN get back in the game in 2007. Hiring Wallace, an avid Indy car fan, figures to be a win-win for all parties, including the IRL, which is in desperate need of a ratings jolt. The IRL’s play-by-play voice figures to be Brian Kenny, host of Friday Night Fights on ESPN2, with former driver Scott Goodyear joining Wallace in the booth. Jerry Punch, Jack Arute and Jamie Little will be the pit reporters. (Autoweek)
Dec. 20, 2005:
Rusty Wallace to test at Daytona 24hrs: Rusty Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR champion, will test a Howard-Boss Motorsports Daytona Prototype and will join a host of Rolex Series regulars and confirmed Rolex 24 At Daytona drivers at the session. Other confirmed drivers include: Bill Lester, Paul Menard and Patrick Carpentier for Cheever Racing, Patrick Long for Alex Job Racing, and Hurley Haywood, JC France, Darren Law, David Donohue and Ted Christopher for Brumos Racing.
Dec. 2, 2005
Wallace receives award: Rusty Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Cup champion who won 55 career races and the hearts of millions of fans, has been named the recipient of the National Motorsports Press Association’s 2005 Myers Brothers Award. The award was presented during the NMPA’s annual Myers Brothers Awards Breakfast, held at the Waldorf-Astoria. Wallace, 49, started 706 Cup races, amassing 202 top-five and 349 top-10 finishes in addition to his 55 victories. He was the series’ 1984 rookie of the year, as well. Perhaps not since Richard Petty walked away from the sport in 1992 has a driver with such a fan following stepped away from the sport of his own will. And Wallace did it while at the top of his game, his Penske Racing South team qualifying for this year’s Nextel Chase For The Nextel Cup and finishing eighth in the final standings. Wallace will remain involved in the sport, once again fielding a NASCAR Busch Series team in 2006. (NMPA)
Oct. 16, 2005:
Rusty gets road named after him: Lowe's Motor Speedway President H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler renamed the road into the Turn 3 tunnel "Rusty Wallace Way" before last night's race. He also cracked a joke as he announced the change during the drivers meeting. "I can see some people in here who will not like driving down this road," Wheeler said with a smile, looking out at a crowd of drivers and crew chiefs. (Times-Dispatch)
Oct. 5, 2005:
Wallace blast restrictor plate racing: (Rusty Wallace) While still very much in the hunt for the Nextel Cup championship - he trails leader Tony Stewart by 76 points - and with an eye toward his impending retirement following the season, Wallace addressed what he considered to be the main factor behind Sunday's multicar accidents. "Bump drafting has gone from touching a little bit, where you pull up behind a guy and kind of touch him in the draft with a very slight touch, to such a ferocious, violent hit from behind that ... it's bending the frames down in the back of the race cars," Wallace said Tuesday during a conference call. "I just couldn't believe the bump drafting I was seeing. That's one thing that, come (the 2006 season-opener at) Daytona, NASCAR is going to have to crack down on with some severe penalties. It could have killed some people. It was just the wrong way to race." Wallace, who will make his 700th career start Sunday in the Banquet 400 at Kansas Speedway, was asked whether the way to keep cars from traveling in tight packs was to remove the restrictor plates from the engines at Talladega and Daytona International Speedway. "That would be totally unreasonable," he said pointedly. "Taking the plates off isn't the answer. Having smaller cubic-inch engines isn't the answer, because it's all about horsepower. ... "We've got to keep tweaking the rules so we can get enough distance between the cars so they're not packed over each other, and we've got to keep working on them so we can get the old slingshot draft working like we used to have. We've got to train the drivers to keep their bumpers off these guys and keep from running into people." (Mercury News/Philadelphia Inquirer)
Sep. 27, 2005:
Rusty Wallace Day in Alabama: Alabama Governor Bob Riley will proclaim Sunday, Oct. 2 as "Rusty Wallace Day" in the state, joining Talladega Superspeedway in special recognition of the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series driver during pre-race ceremonies before the start of the UAW-Ford 500. Wallace will officially retire from full-time NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition at the end of this year, with this 2005 final season in the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge titled "Rusty's Last Call." In addition to Gov. Riley's proclamation, Talladega Superspeedway President Grant Lynch will present Wallace with a framed, one-of-a-kind print thanking him for the many memories he's created over the course of his 25-year career. Also, Wallace and his wife, Patti, will be granted lifetime passes to Talladega Superspeedway. "There are few drivers who have had an impact on the sport of stock car racing as much as Rusty Wallace," Lynch said. "We want to sincerely thank him for all he has meant to NASCAR fans over the years and for all of the great memories we would not have without him." Born on Aug. 15, 1958 in St. Louis, Mo., Wallace began his career in NASCAR's most elite series at the age of 21 on May 16, 1980 in Atlanta, with his first full season of competition in the series in 1984. Wallace's first Talladega Superspeedway start in the series was on Aug. 2, 1981, one of four races in which he competed that season. In a quarter of a century of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series competition, he has posted 55 wins, 201 top-five and 347 top-10 finishes. Wallace has earned a dozen of his top-10 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series finishes here at NASCAR's Most Competitive Track, and he has visited Gatorade Victory Lane in other series on two occasions - in 1980 when he won a Grand American event and in 1991 when he took the victory in the International Race of Champions event held here. The UAW-Ford 500 at Talladega Superspeedway will be start No. 699 in the series for Wallace, his 45th here. (Talladega Superspeedway PR)
Sep. 26, 2005:
Rusty Wallace Day: In a prerace ceremony, the track honored three-time Dover winner Rusty Wallace. The 1989 Cup series champion is retiring after this season. Gov. Ruth Ann Minner declared Sunday "Rusty Wallace Day" in Delaware. Wallace joked about being tardy reaching the podium for the gift presentations and declarations. "Sorry I was late," he said. "Usually these things don't start on time, but this one did." (News-Record)
Sep. 11, 2005:
Wallace honored, Rusty Wallace day yesterday: Gov. Mark Warner proclaimed yesterday Rusty Wallace Day, surprising Wallace with the news in the pre-race drivers' meeting. Wallace has won six races at RIR, more than any other driver. "I think I took him a little bit by surprise in the meeting," Warner said. "He said, 'Boy, that's pretty cool. It's not real often you get a day named after you.'" Warner also used the meeting to make another push for Richmond to be awarded the NASCAR Hall of Fame. He was introduced and welcomed everyone to the state of Virginia, "hopefully the future home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame." (Times-Dispatch)
Aug 27, 2005
Biffle and Wallace secure in Chase: When the last piece of sheet metal had been crumpled Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, the Chase for the Nextel Cup field had two more entries: Greg Biffle and Rusty Wallace. Biffle finished third behind winner Matt Kenseth and runner-up Jeff Burton, and gave a nod to his crew for their diligence. "This race team has a never-give-up attitude," he said. "To come from dead-last to third ... and I didn't get any freebies -- not in the pits -- I had to earn every single one of them." Point standings leader Tony Stewart and second-place Jimmie Johnson earned Chase berths last week at Michigan. Biffle, Wallace and Johnson must start the remaining two races before the Chase to solidify their spots in the Chase. (NASCAR.com)
Aug 17, 2005
Wallace and Martin to be honored at Michigan: When the green flag drops for the GFS Marketplace 400 on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, two drivers who have accomplished so much on the 2-mile oval, Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin, will be saying their final good-byes and racing in their final NASCAR NEXTEL Cup races at MIS. Wallace and Martin are no strangers to success at MIS with a combined 15 victories between the two of them. Wallace has seven wins (5 Cup, 1 IROC, 1 ASA) and Martin eight (4 Cup, 2 Busch, 1 IROC, 1 ASA) at MIS, making them two of the most successful drivers in track history. Both drivers will be looking for one last victory at MIS in Wallace's 'Rusty's Last Call' and Martin's 'Salute To You' campaigns. Fans will want to be in their seats prior to driver introductions at approximately 2 p.m. as MIS will honor Wallace and Martin during pre-race ceremonies prior to the GFS Marketplace 400. Both drivers will be presented a framed photo collage of memorable wins at MIS by track President Brett Shelton and have a chance to address the MIS crowd and thank them for all of their support during their two annual stops in the Irish Hills. Both drivers will then ride separate trucks to give an opportunity for one last salute to the great MIS fans. "I've always enjoyed racing at MIS and would like to win here again," said Wallace. "This track has always treated me real well and the fans here have always been some of the best on the circuit. It's been a great run and I've enjoyed my last season in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series." In addition, fans will also get a chance to see Wallace appear in MIS' all-inclusive Victory Lane Club prior to the GFS Marketplace 400 on August 21. Wallace will perform question and answer sessions for fans who have purchased the Fan Hospitality package. (MIS PR)
Aug 3, 2005
Rusty and Stephen Wallace take laps at Michigan test session: The August 19-21 race weekend at Michigan International Speedway will be one of emotional goodbyes, but also exciting new beginnings for Rusty Wallace and his family. Rusty, will be making his 44th and final start in the August 21, GFS Marketplace 400, while son Stephen Wallace will make his superspeedway debut during the August 19, ARCA RE/MAX Series Hantz Group 200. In preparation for the special weekend at MIS, both Wallace's visited the 2-mile oval on Wednesday, August 3 for an ARCA RE/MAX Series testing day, where Rusty took to the wheel first to shake down the car, but quickly gave the wheel to son Stephen. The now 17-year old Wallace didn't take long to get up to speed, and turned a lap time of 40.20 on just his third lap, while eventually running a time of 40.10 during the morning session. Tickets are still available for the ARCA RE/MAX Series Hantz Group 200 on Friday August 19, featuring Stephen Wallace's superspeedway debut. Seats are also still available for the Saturday, August 20 NASCAR Busch Series race featuring a post-race concert by Josh Turner and Sugarland. Tickets are available by calling the MIS ticket hotline at 1-800-354-1010 or by logging on to www.MISpeedway.com. (Michigan International Speedway PR)
Aug 1, 2005
Rusty would be Interested in Consultant job: At Pocono Raceway two weekends ago, (Rusty) Wallace said that if he were asked, he would serve as a special consultant to NASCAR to solve problems and fix racetracks. "I haven't had any conversations with [NASCAR]," Wallace said. "But I would definitely be interested in doing it. I want to help this sport grow [and] I see a lot of negative things that I can help on, so we'll see what happens." Wallace acknowledged that NASCAR has a history of listening to everyone in its garage areas. The sanctioning body has taken Wallace's unofficial "proposal" under advisement. "It's important for everybody to understand that we take in all the input that's out there already, from as many sources as we can," NASCAR spokesman Herb Branham said. "We'll always consider other options to make the racing better and safer for all of the competitors." (NASCAR.com)
July 27, 2005
Wallace, Baker test at Daytona: Despite having a week off from NEXTEL Cup competition, where he currently sits 4th in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup standings, Rusty Wallace was as busy as ever Monday, as his RWI Racing Busch Series operation completed tests at both Daytona International Speedway and Kentucky Speedway on the same day. In Daytona, racing legend Buddy Baker was behind the wheel of the #64 Miller High Life Dodge Charger, completing testing in conjunction with Racing Radios. Similar to the radio test Wallace completed at Talladega last year, in which he hit nearly 230 MPH, Baker wheeled the RWI Racing machine to an average lap speed of an even 200 MPH around Daytona's high banks. The ever-jubilant Baker was nothing short of thrilled at the opportunity stating, "That was a lot of fun, I have to tell you. Going that fast around here really brought back some memories, that's for sure. Blake Bainbridge and his guys really put together some first-class equipment and I'm really excited to have had the opportunity to do this." On the other front, Wallace was present for his son Stephen's first speedway test, conducted at Kentucky Speedway. Stephen Wallace, the 2005 Snowball Derby Champion, wheeled a Penske Racing-prepared Dodge around the 1.5 mile oval in preparation for his first speedway start, the August 19th ARCA RE-MAX Series event at Michigan Speedway. The test was manned by members of the RWI Racing Busch Series team, as well as representatives from Penske-Jasper Engines. To begin the test, the elder Wallace jumped behind the wheel of the #77 Kodak Dodge from Travis Kvapil's stable and completed a baseline lap of 32.65 seconds. After some tweaking on the car's chassis set-up, it was Stephen's turn at the controls. By the end of his second outing, the younger Wallace had logged a best lap of 32.83 seconds, barely missing the time set by his father. The next event for RWI Racing is this weekend's Wallace Family Tribute 250 at Gateway International Raceway near St. Louis Missouri. In the event bearing his name, legendary driver Rusty Wallace will make his first and last appearance in a major auto race in his hometown of St. Louis. He will be piloting the #64 Miller High Life Dodge, co-sponsored by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.For more information on RWI Racing, Rusty Wallace or Stephen Wallace, please visit www.rwiracing.com, www.rustywallace.com and www.stevewallaceonline.com, respectively. (RWI PR)
July 26, 2005
Wallace Family Tribute largest St. Louis Busch Crowd: When Nextel Cup driver and former St. Louisan Rusty Wallace announced in 2004 that this season would be his last in the series, Gateway International Raceway vice president and general manager Matt Strelo knew he had a hook for this year's NASCAR Busch Series race at his Madison facility. He would get Rusty, Mike and Kenny Wallace to race together at Gateway, and Strelo was sure the people would come. As it turns out, Strelo was correct. Strelo said he expects a crowd of about 65,000 for the "Wallace Family Tribute 250" on the 1.25-mile oval when the green flag waves at 7:15 p.m. Saturday. If a sellout does happen, it will be a first for the 9-year-old track. As of Monday, fewer than 10,000 seats remained. "I think it's the most significant motor sports event in the history of our region," Strelo said. "Clearly, it's the biggest in the history of this race track. I think it's going to be close to a sellout. I don't want to tell people don't bother coming because there's still plenty of tickets available. (St. Louis Today)
Rusty looks to put son in car: My son Stephen will be in Kentucky this week testing, and then I'll take him to Michigan, and we'll test for his first ARCA race the 19th. "Dodge has given Stephen the opportunity to start testing, and Dodge has paid for some races for Stephen - he'll run Chicago in a Dodge development car. It's all about getting seat time for him. And once I get confident with him, I'll put him in my Busch car for some races, too. "I think I can still do this. It was a great day. Lance Armstrong, when he finished the Tour de France, said 'I'm going out on top.' And so did Michael Jordan. And so am I. But we've got a bunch of races left this year, and my goal is to make the top-10 (playoff cut in September)." (Salem-Journal)
July 22, 2005
Rusty on Martin, "He should retire": Rusty Wallace's popularity spoke loudly yesterday afternoon through the thousands who flocked to catch a final glimpse at Hersheypark's Star Pavilion. One last chance to grab an autograph. Wallace's Last Call Tour made one of its 12 national stops as NASCAR makes its last state visit for 2005 at Pocono Raceway. Wallace is making his last start. After 22 seasons, Wallace is hanging up his helmet in November when the checkered flag falls at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He would like his competitor and friend, Mark Martin, to do the same. Martin announced last October this would be his final season competing full-time in the Cup Series. However, recent reports indicate Martin is being swayed by Jack Roush Racing to return for one final season before handing the keys over to Jamie McMurray in 2007. "I think they would lynch me [if I would come back]," Wallace said. "But to each his own. "I think it's a bad mistake for Mark. I'm not going to all these race tracks and receiving accolades, congratulations and plaques only to turn around and say it was all a joke. I don't know if it's even legal for Mark to come back. He sold all that merchandise under the pretense that he's done." Wallace took time to consider the ramifications of returning following a farewell season. "If I did that, I'd get a lawsuit," Wallace added. "When my fans think I'm gone, then I'm out of here. Mark's my friend, and I would tell him the same thing if he was standing here." (pennLive)
June 30, 2005
Rusty not racing at Newton track: Rusty Wallace says he won't take part in the first race at the Iowa Speedway when it opens next summer. The legendary NASCAR driver is retiring from the Nextel Cup Series at the end of the season and designed the track which broke ground last week in Newton. Wallace says he will drive some laps at the track with his car to check the smoothness of the track and to "I'll drive the laps at the new track to make sure the consistency is right the racing's right on it before I sign off on it," Wallace says.Wallace says there are enough super speedways out there and the track of 7/8ths mile will fill a need. He says he believes it'll be "the most awesome speedway in the entire world that I've everworked on."Sanctioning bodies like ARCA and USAC are expected to hold events at the track and Wallace says down the road NASCAR events are a possibility. He says NASCAR "is totally in the loop" for everything they're doing at the Newton track. (RadioIowa)
June 27, 2005
Penske #2 and Roush #6 rides: Two of the sport's top car owners, Roger Penske and Jack Roush, are trying to find new drivers to replace retiring Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin. Penske says he probably won't make a decision until September. (Salem-Journal)
June 25, 2005
Martin and Wallace on Wall: Infineon Raceway president and general manager Steve Page and Speedway Motorsports CEO Bruton Smith were on hand Friday morning as Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin were honored in Victory Circle as the first inductees into the track's "Wall of Fame." Each driver was presented with granite plaques etched with their respective likeness. Both plan to retire from full-time Nextel Cup competition at year's end. Copies of the plaques will be displayed in the Wall of Fame, behind Infineon's main grandstand. "To be put on the Wall of Fame here at Infineon Raceway is really cool," Wallace said. "I've won here a couple of times, and this has always been one of my best tracks -- I've always qualified well and run up front. (NASCAR)
June 24, 2005
Hornish content with IRL, but possible Wallace replacement: For Sam Hornish Jr., the No. 2 of the Nextel Cup Series is an intriguing possibility, but the Indy Racing League will remain his No.1 priority for now. With Rusty Wallace scheduled re from full-time duty in Penske Racing's No. 2 Dodge after this season, NASCAR speculation on a replacement often has focused on Hornish, who drives for Penske in the IRL. "Right now, I'm pretty happy what I'm doing," he said yesterday while settling in at Richmond International Raceway for tomorrow's SunTrust Indy Challenge. "Somewhere down the line, I might wake up one day and decide [NASCAR's] what I want to do, but right now it's not. I don't see that changing in the next year or two." (Times-Dispatch)
June 20, 2005
No more R. Wallace Doubles: Rusty Wallace, who is retiring after this season, said he will rethink racing twice in one weekend. Wallace flew from MIS to Kentucky Speedway Saturday to compete in the Busch race, in which he finished 24th. He flew back late Saturday to prepare for Sunday's Cup race. "I'm a little tired after running Kentucky," Wallace admitted after finishing 10th at Michigan. "I was going to run the Busch race at (Indianapolis Raceway Park) before the Brickyard (in August), but I don't think I'm going to do that now." (Detroit Free Press)
June 1 2005
Wallace Flooded with Offers: The 1989 NASCAR Cup champion spent several hours Tuesday at Kentucky Speedway testing the No. 64 Dodge he will drive in the Meijer 300 Busch Series event later this month at the 1.5-mile track. During a break in the schedule, he joined his brother, Kenny, for a news conference previewing the June 18 race, and spoke about life beyond racing and an opportunity that could keep him in the Nextel Cup Series beyond this season. "I don't mean to be teasing anybody with that," Wallace, 48, said, "but, boy, these offers keep coming, and you've just got to keep thinking about it. "It just really gets enticing to think about those things." (Enquirer)
May 30 2005
Rusty and Martin Honored by Wheeler: The gifts just keep coming for retiring drivers Rusty Wallace and Mark Martin. At the drivers' meeting, Lowe's Motor Speedway president Humpy Wheeler saluted them with framed photos of the trips to Victory Lane in the Coca-Cola 600. Martin won in 2002, and Wallace came home first in 1990. (ABC News)
May 23, 2005
Penkse and Gannasi? Insiders wonder whether the move will relieve the tension that exists between Wallace and Ryan Newman's No. 12 team. "The money I got from Team Penske was just not that much money," Wallace says. "It was an OK sellout, and I'm happy with it. . . .There were way too many partners at Team Penske. They're all good guys, but with my Busch team I can do whatever I want." There has been talk in the motorsports world that Penske's IRL effort will become a one-car team in 2006. Speculation is that Sam Hornish either could take over Wallace's No. 2 car or be sent to Ganassi Racing, in exchange for Jamie McMurray, who would drive the No. 2. (SportingNews)
May 17, 2005
Penkse Buys out Wallace and Miller: As expected, Penske Performance, Inc., the majority shareholder of Penske Racing South, Inc., announced Monday it has purchased the individual ownership interests in the company held by Rusty Wallace, Don Miller and John Erickson. "The transaction represents an opportunity to reward Rusty, Don and John for their many contributions to the growth and success of the company," said Roger Penske, chairman of Penske Performance. "Penske Racing South is committed to its participation as a competitor in NASCAR. We enjoy the support of a dedicated and loyal group of sponsors who will be with us well into the future. Our focus is to maximize all three cars' performance every week with winning the Nextel Cup Championship as our goal." (ThatsRacin)
May 11, 2005
R. Wallace Gets Top Boy Scout Award and Raises Money: NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace made his annual trip Tuesday to Orangeburg, where he was first in the hearts of everyone in attendance. For the 10th consecutive year, Wallace made an appearance at the Tourville Lodge to help raise money for the Boy Scouts of America at the "Friends of Scouting" event sponsored by Jim Roquemore of Super Sod. Hank Jones of Elloree, a personal friend of Wallace's, helped in getting the event together and once again arranging for the NASCAR star to be in attendance. "We love coming to this event," Jones said. "It's not about coming out and getting awards, it's about the kids that we're helping in the area." "It's a wonderful event, and we have a lot of fun doing it," Wallace said. "This is my 10th year doing this, and I want to thank everyone who supported us." (Times and Democrat)
May 9, 2005
Wallace and Tony Danza Race Go-Karts; Danza Flips: Tony Danza got quite a scare when he and NASCAR star Rusty Wallace were racing go-karts during the taping of a segment for the nationally syndicated "The Tony Danza Show." Danza was leading as they entered the final lap on West 66th Street Monday morning, the show said. After Wallace gave Danza's vehicle a little "bump and run," the 54-year-old talk-show host lost control of his go-kart, which flipped over. "Although slightly worse for wear, Danza escaped with no injuries," the show said in a statement. The "DayTony 500" segment aired on Monday's show. (NY Newsday)
Paul Tracey to Cup? Rumors about the racing future of Toronto's Paul Tracy in NASCAR were ratcheted up this weekend. This time the 36-year-old Champ Car World Series driver is being wooed by Penske Racing South. While there have been stories linking Tracy to a proposed American Le Mans Series team planned by Roger Penske, this is the first time that people are talking about him joining up with Penske's NASCAR program. The nucleus of the talks revolve around Penske needing a driver to replace Rusty Wallace in the No. 2 Dodge. More intriguing is talk in the NASCAR garage that Ryan Newman is unhappy with his progress in the No. 12 Penske Dodge. (Toronto Sun)
May 5, 2005
Wallace Contacts Injured RCR Crewman: Contrary to a recent report, Rusty Wallace said Thursday that he had, in fact, attempted to contact Richard Childress Racing crewman Josh Yost throughout the past week. "I left him messages," Wallace said. "If he listens to his messages at his house he'll see I called and left a long, apologetic message." Wallace and Yost finally spoke via cell phone Thursday morning. "I just spoke with him and he's fine," Wallace said. Yost, the jack man for Jeff Burton's No. 31 Cingular Chevrolet, was struck by Wallace's Dodge during a pit stop in the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway. An RCR team spokesman who had spoken directly with Yost on Wednesday told NASCAR.COM's Marty Smith that Wallace had not yet spoken with Yost. (NASCAR)
April 22, 2005
Penske Offer to buy out Rusty: Wallace, driving his final full season in Nextel Cup, said Penske has offered to buy out his share of the team, as well as his longtime friend Miller's share. But Wallace said the ongoing fuss with Newman will not play a part in that decision, when he makes it. "Again, I want to stress I haven't made that decision,'' Wallace said. "I've got an offer to do that. I lay awake at nights wondering if that's what I should do.'' (ESPN)
Feb. 21, 2005
Wallace Honored: Rusty Wallace was inducted into the Goodyear Legends of Daytona area inside Daytona International Speedway's FanZone and never took off his sunglasses during the presentation Saturday morning. "I was having a tough time up there on stage," Wallace said. "They were laying out my stats and all the things I've done. I'm glad I had on my sunglasses because my eyes filled up after all that." Wallace said today's Daytona 500 will be business as usual when he starts 36th on the grid and begins to grind his way through the field. This will be his last 500 start as he begins the "Rusty's Last Call" tour before he retires following the 2005 season. (Daytona News Journal)
Feb. 19, 2005
Wallace No Second Thoughts on Last Call: Rusty Wallace promises he won't be publicly second-guessing his decision to retire this year anymore. "I got in trouble with my wife waffling around the other day," he said. "I'm going to stay on the path." Wallace's backup Dodge turned the eighth-fastest lap in yesterday's lone Cup practice, which was paced by Dale Earnhardt Jr. (190.484) and Scott Wimmer (190.388).(Richmond Times Dispatch)
Feb. 12, 2005
Visa Joins Rusty Wallace: Officials of Rusty Wallace Inc. and Visa USA announced today the continued partnership between NASCAR racing great Rusty Wallace and the world’s number one payment brand. Under the agreement, Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Champion and 55-race winner, will continue to be a featured driver in the Visa Ultimate NASCAR Experience marketing campaign for the 2005 NASCAR NEXTEL Cup season. “Our association with Visa is something that I have been extremely proud of and to be able to continue our involvement this year is really exciting,” said Wallace, who is preparing for his “Rusty’s Last Call” tour, his final season as a driver in NASCAR’s premier series. “We’ve had so much fun with Visa’s program and the fans have been simply ecstatic about it. The fact that this will be our final year behind the wheel of my No. 2 Dodge should certainly enhance the promotion for 2005.” "Rusty Wallace has been a wonderful ambassador for Visa, and his participation in the Visa Ultimate NASCAR Experience is a cornerstone of its success," said Michael Lynch, senior vice president, event and sponsorship marketing, Visa USA. "Rusty’s ability to connect with fans and sponsors alike with his charisma and professionalism helps bring Visa cardholders closer to the action than any other sponsor." (Wallace PR)
Feb. 11, 2005
Wallace Seconds Thoughts? Rusty Wallace is busy preparing for his "Last Call," but the St. Louis native might be willing to keep the bar open a little longer. Wallace said Thursday he is having second thoughts about retiring at the end of the 2005 NASCAR season and will consider running further Nextel Cup races beyond the upcoming schedule. His final go-round is being touted as Rusty's "Last Call," and already is being heavily promoted as the Daytona 500 approaches. Of his second thoughts, Wallace said: "People who are retired told me it will pass. I'm hoping halfway through the year the thing that forced me into retirement, the 36 races every year, will make me say it's the right decision. ... If there had been 30 races, I wouldn't have retired.(STLtoday)
Feb. 1, 2005
Gaughen and Wallace Busch Series? Rusty Wallace said on Tuesday that he has some unresolved slots on his Busch Series roster this year, and he hopes Brendan Gaughan can fill the gaps. Gaughan was Wallace's teammate at Penske Racing last year. Wallace, who fielded Busch cars under the Rusty Wallace Inc. banner in 2004, says he is trying to add Gaughan to a long list of drivers of the No. 64, including Jamie McMurray, Jeremy Mayfield and himself. (NASCAR)
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