One of the most popular drivers in the NASCAR is Kenny Wallace. Fans love his no holds bar, don’t tell me to sit down and shut up attitude. He tells it like it is and that also means about his racing career and future.
The last couple seasons have been rough for Wallace as he has struggled to be competitive and keep pace with the top teams in the NASCAR Nationwide series.
Wallace about midway through the season acknowledged that if he couldn’t line up a competitive ride in 2011, it could be his last full time season.
"If I'm running this way next year, it will probably be my last year," Wallace said. "I will say that it's very important for me to be satisfied. I'm in a situation where I don't need to be racing just to make money.”
Last week RAB Racing announced that Wallace would drive full time in 2011. RAB will field Toyota’s. Wallace who has over 800 career starts had no idea what his 2011 plans were going to be.
The news that he would be driving for RAB was much needed relief. "My goal was to find a team with whom I could be competitive and I believe I have found that with RAB Racing; I'm ready to go for 2011” Wallace said.
Wallace in 2010 had no top fives, 10’s and no poles. Wallace was driving underfunded equipment and at times was barely competitive.
For Wallace and his fans that was not enough. Jay Robinson Racing did what they could and they pieced together sponsorship throughout the year.
Still for Wallace it was not enough because Wallace is a racers’ racer. He races on dirt when he has time off during the week or in the off season. Wallace is a quintessential racer. He respects the drivers he races with and the sport.
He understands the up’s and the down’s better than most. It is his respect for the sport that had Wallace willing to step back.
Now RAB has a veteran of this series, in solid equipment and that Toyota horsepower won't hurt.
There is the possibility that Sprint Cup drivers cannot run for both the NNS and NSCS titles. A NNS regular could be crowned champion and with Wallace in a much more competitive ride, don’t overlook Wallace.
He has sponsorships with University of Northwestern Ohio, Federated Auto Parts and Family Farmers and coalition of corn and soybean farmers for at least 16 races. While they are still looking for sponsorship for remaining races, the change will be exactly what Wallace needs.
It won’t be overnight and will it take time? Yes, but that doesn’t mean Wallace can’t contend for wins and the title.
To do this competitively in this sport it takes money and Wallace knows that it’s not as simple as it used to be. Wallace doesn’t intend on slowing down both on the track and away. He will still be doing tv for SPEED and of course his dirt team.
He is accessible, honest and knows just how lucky he is. He knows there are racers who would love to have half the career he has had.
Clearly for Wallace there is no slowing down anytime soon and for his fans and NASCAR that’s the best news yet.
Quotes: www.nascar.com
photo: LAT Photographic
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