FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WATKINS GLEN, NY (August 8, 2009)--Rusty Wallace Racing's Steve Wallace (No. 66 5-Hour Energy Chevrolet) battled back following late race pit strategy issues this afternoon to score a 12th-place finish in today's Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen International.  His finish marked his career-best at the track and was the second-best of the day among Nationwide Series regulars.

After running around the top-15 for most of the afternoon, the decision of Wallace's team not to pit with the rest of the field under the lap 45 caution put him into the lead for the lap 48 restart.  Unable to go the distance on fuel, Wallace's team pitted him under the subsequent lap 53 caution, sending him back to 25th place for the restart on lap 56.  Over the race's final 26 laps, Wallace fought back from his deficit, gaining 13 positions--including three on the final lap--on his way to a 12th place finish.

With his efforts at The Glen, Wallace--for the second straight week--improved his position in the 2009 Driver Standings.  He now ranks sixth overall--his career best ranking--and stands a mere 50 points from cracking the top-five.

Wallace led two laps today en route to his 14th top-15 finish of the season, earning him WIX Filters Lap Leader of the Race honors for the event.  His five position improvement over his finish in last week's race also earned him the Featherlite Most Improved Driver award.  Wallace now has sole possession of the lead in the season-long Featherlite award standings.

While Wallace fought back from adversity this afternoon, his RWR teammate, Brendan Gaughan (No. 62 USfidelis Chevrolet), faced quite a bit of adversity as well.  The Las Vegas native fought back from a near-accident, a late-race spin and the same strategy issues as Wallace, to come home with a 22nd-place finish in this afternoon's event.

Gaughan's efforts at The Glen were good enough to propel him one spot forward in the Driver Standings, to ninth-place overall.  He now maintains a 100-point margin over 11th place, a mere 47-point gap to eighth and a 93 point deficit to his sixth-place teammate.

# # #

About Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC

U.S.-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.  For 2009, the organization campaigns the No. 66 and No. 62 Chevrolet Impala SS vehicles 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.  Both drivers are currently ranked among the top-ten in the 2009 standings.  For more on Rusty Wallace Racing, please visit rustywallace.com.