Russell William Wallace, also known as “Rusty,” is a legend and champion who has made his mark on the NASCAR world. He is eighth on the all-time wins list with his 55 series wins. Before joining the NASCAR circuit, in the 1970s he became known throughout the Midwest for winning more than 200 short-track races. As a rookie, Rusty started 2 races in 1980 and by 1984 he had run a full season. That season brought 2 top-five finishes, a 14th-place finish in points, and Rookie of the Year honors.
Rusty is known to have a bit of a temper off the track. He once threw a water bottle at Dale Earnhardt after being “intimidated” by him at the race. However, on the track, he ran clean and hard. In 1983, Rusty won the ASA championship while racing against some of NASCAR’s greats like Mark Martin, Alan Kulwicki and Dick Trickle. He is best remembered for driving the #27 Kodiak Pontiac, a new sponsorship he secured in 1987.
Rusty’s Winston Cup Championship came by 12 points in 1989 when he beat close friend and fierce rival Dale Earnhardt. His most successful season was 1993, though he was in two serious accidents at Daytona and Talladega when his car went airborne and flipped over several times.
Rusty also drove the #1 Miller Genuine Draft Pontiac. #2 affectionately known as “Midnight”. This car raced for six seasons, taking many wins before being retired in 1997.
On August 30, 2004, Rusty Wallace announced that the upcoming 2005 season would be his last as a full-time driver. Even at the end of his run, Rusty never missed a step. He qualified for the Chase and finished eighth in the final standings. Rusty currently owns and operates Rusty Wallace, Inc., which operates the #66 Chevrolet driven by Rusty’s son, Steve Wallace, in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. He also has a television career with ESPN and ABC. Rusty’s fans will forever remember him for their side-by-side fight for the win in the #3 Chevrolet when both men were at the top of their game in NASCAR.
Born: August 14, 1956
Place of birth: Fenton, Mo.
Awards:
1979 USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year
1983 A.S.A. Champion
1984 Rookie of the Year
Winston Cup Champion 1989
1991 IROC Champion
1998 Named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers
Cup Series Statistics:
706 races in 16 years
First race: 1980 Atlanta 500
Last Race: 2005 Ford 400 (Homestead)
First win: 1986 Valleydale 500 (Bristol)
Last win: 2004 Advance Auto Parts 500 (Martinsville)
wins: 55
Maximum tension: 349
Poles: 36
By: Cindy Pischel
