PHOENIX (April 17, 2009)—Rusty Wallace Racing’s Steve Wallace (No. 66 USfidelis Chevrolet Impala SS) was among the top-ten fastest in this morning’s final practice session for tonight’s Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.  His ninth-place effort was the second-best of all Nationwide Series drivers in the field.

Wallace’s best lap of 27.637 seconds (130.260 MPH) came on the 52nd of his 54 laps in the session.  Noted Wallace, “I really think that our No. 66 Chevrolet is capable of a top-ten run tonight.  We started out the practice chasing a green racetrack and got our car too far from our baseline setup.  Once the track got rubber on it, we went back to our baseline and re-adjusted from there.  Our car ended up handling really well and I’m excited about tonight’s race.”

Meanwhile, Wallace’s RWR teammate, Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Impala SS), was also among the top-20 in the final practice, posting the 19th-fastest effort overall.  Gaughan’s best lap of 27.889 seconds (129.083 MPH) occurred on the 53rd of his 66 laps in the session.  Said Gaughan, “We fought a tight condition in the morning practice, but we definitely gained on it as the morning went on.  Bryan Berry (crew chief) and my guys have a few more adjustments up their sleeves and I’m confident that our No. 62 will be fast tonight.”

# # #

About Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC

Mooresville, NC-based Rusty Wallace Racing is a professional auto racing team steeped in the legendary history of its founder and one of NASCAR’s top-ten drivers of all-time, Rusty Wallace.  In 2008, the team’s No. 64 entry was ranked among the top-ten overall in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.  In 2009, the organization campaigns the No. 66 and No. 62 Chevrolets in the Nationwide Series.  Its No. 66 entry is piloted by third-generation wheelman, Steve Wallace and its No. 62 wheeled by former NASCAR Truck Series Rookie of the Year, Brendan Gaughan.