For the past 25 years, Rusty Wallace has delighted fans with his impeccable driving, magnetism and dedication to the sport of auto racing. A former NASCAR Premier Series champion and 55 time race winner, Wallace ranks as one of the top-five money winners in NASCAR history, with nearly $50 million in career earnings. His 55 career victories mark the eighth best all-time career total and the seventh best in NASCAR's modern era. Though Wallace has retired from NEXTEL Cup competition, he has hardly slowed down, and his great affection for NASCAR and auto racing continues to grow.
In his last year on the NASCAR circuit, Wallace left fans with an appreciation for his many contributions to the growth and popularity of NASCAR racing. Nine active race facilities currently on the NASCAR schedule permanently honored Wallace, and more than a dozen state, city, and county seats of government declared race day as officially recognized Rusty Wallace Day. In addition, bestowed upon Wallace were Delaware's Order of the First State and North Carolina's Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honors possible in those states.
With 55 Premier Series wins under his belt, Wallace knows first-hand what it takes to be successful on the racetrack. As owner of RWI Racing, a NASCAR Busch Series team, he has put this knowledge to work even further. The team, in its second full-season of competition, campaigns the No. 64 Dodge, driven by Jamie McMurray and Steve Wallace. Under the elder Wallace's leadership, it did not take the team long to step into the NASCAR Busch Series' Victory lane, as Jamie McMurray captured the checkers for RWI Racing in what was only the team's sixteenth-ever start, the 2004 BI-LO 200 at Darlington Raceway.
Wallace's most recent undertaking has taken his immense knowledge and charismatic personality to the broadcasting booth as lead auto racing analyst for ESPN and ABC Sports. Wallace will be the ESPN and ABC Sports lead NASCAR Nextel Cup and Busch Series analyst when the networks return to televising NASCAR in 2007. In 2006, he will report from at least 20 NASCAR races for SportsCenter , and will be lead analyst for the 2006 IRL season and this year's Indianapolis 500. Additionally, Wallace will serve as studio analyst for SportsCenter , as well as for ESPN2's upcoming daily motor sports series.
Entering retirement has hardly slowed down the fast-paced lifestyle of the legendary Wallace. Though he remains as intense as ever, Wallace enjoys relaxing on the golf course, piloting his Learjet 31A and most importantly spending time at home with his wife Patti and three children, Greg, Katie, and Steve.
