Russell William Wallace, aka “Rusty,” is a legend and champion who has made his mark on the NASCAR world. He’s eighth on the all-time win list with his 55 series wins. Before joining the NASCAR circuit, in the 1970s he became known in 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 in 2 top-fives, a 14th place in points, and Rookie of the Year honors.
Rusty is known for having a bit of a temper off the track. He once threw a bottle of water at Dale Earnhardt after being “bullied” by him on the run. However, on the track he ran clean and hard. In 1983, Rusty won the ASA championship while competing against some of NASCAR’s greats like Mark Martin. Alan Kulwicki and Dick Trickle. He is best remembered for driving the # 27 Pontiac Kodiak, a new sponsorship he achieved in 1987.
Rusty’s Winston Cup Championship came by 12 points in 1989 when he beat his close friend and fierce rival Dale Earnhardt. His most successful season was 1993, despite the fact that he suffered two serious accidents at Daytona and Talladega when his car went flying and flipped multiple times.
Rusty also drove the No. 2 Pontiac Miller Genuine Draft, affectionately known as “Midnight.” This car raced for six seasons, with many victories before being retired in 1997.
In August On December 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 career, Rusty never missed a step. He qualified for the Chase and finished eighth in the final standings. Today, Rusty 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 career in broadcasting with ESPN and ABC. Rusty’s fans will remember him forever for his side-by-side fight for victory in the # 3 Chevrolet when both men were at the top of their game in NASCAR.
Author born: August 14, 1956
Place of birth: Fenton, Missouri
Awards:
1979 USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year
1983 ASA Champion
1984 rookie of the year
Winston Cup Champion 1989
IROC Champion 1991
1998 Named one of NASCAR’s Top 50 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
Highest ten: 349
Poles: 36
By: Cindy Pischel