WALLACE MAINTAINS HOPE FOR CHANGES TO HEIGHTEN COMPETITION
-Miller Lite Team Penske Dodge Driver Cites Fans' Concern For More Exciting Racing-

BROOKLYN, Mich. (August 12, 2003) - According to Miller Lite Team Penske Dodge driver Rusty Wallace and his feel of public opinion, perhaps "checkmate champs" such as a Borris Spassky or Bobby Fischer should consider donning a helmet and entering NASCAR Winston Cup races.

The circuit is heading back to the 2.0-mile Michigan International Speedway for Sunday's 400-mile, 200-lap GMS Marketplace 400 and it is a forgone conclusion that the winner will be determined by track position, fuel mileage or pit strategy - or a combination of those factors.

"But that's the way it has always been at Michigan and now it's that way everywhere we go, too," offered Wallace, a five-time race winner at MIS. "Through the years, you've come to expect that being the scenario at Michigan. I mean hell, even I have won a race at Michigan because of fuel mileage and Rusty Wallace winning on fuel mileage is about as likely to happen as a snowstorm in Honolulu.

"But the bottom line is that track position, pit strategy and fuel mileage are the most important factors in the sport today and it just can't stay that way. The feel that I'm getting is that folks are really getting tired of it. Yeah, you can just sit there and say, 'hey that's just Rusty moaning and groaning because he's not winning all the races like he used to,' but that's not the case at all.

"All you gotta do is just listen up to what the fans are saying," said Wallace, whose Saturday afternoon visits to his souvenir trailer to intermingle with fans are almost a weekly ritual. "They're getting tired of it. They'd occasionally like to see the guy with the strongest and fastest car win a race every once in a while.

"I was at an autograph session the other day when some of the fans made comments that really stuck in my head," Wallace continued. "They said that they really hoped that NASCAR would make changes to bring back some of the excitement there used to be. One particular fella' said that all his buddies feel the same way, too. They are getting sick and tired of the same old story - strategy, fuel mileage, and track position - winning all the races. They're all tired as hell of hearing about aero-push, clean air, dirty air and all.

"This one guy really caught my attention when he said - and he said it pretty damned straight-faced - 'You guys might as well get out there and run a few hot laps, then bring all the cars down pit road and park 'em. Then you guys can get out and play chess to see who they give the trophy to. It's gotten to be just about that bad.' Now if that doesn't get your attention, I don't know what would.

"I know that the guy wasn't being dead serious, but he certainly did a good job of making his point, didn't he? He said that he appreciated me trying to lobby NASCAR for changes - trying to push for the smaller rear spoilers, trying to get back to the softer tires and all. He said he was grateful for anybody who was trying to put more competition back into the sport.

"I told him that I know NASCAR is very much aware that there's a big problem out there and they're looking at it really hard. It may just look like they are only taking baby steps and they're not moving as fast as some of us would like to see 'em move.

"I've lobbied and played the politics about as long and hard as I can," Wallace said. "I've been very vocal about cutting these spoilers down and softening up the tires. But there's a limit to what I can do.

"When you get too vocal, some cats start claiming that I'm only whining and that I should just keep my big mouth shut and my thoughts to myself. I think the good thing now is that there are a ton of the fans that see what I've been talking about for almost two years now. They're beginning to get more and more vocal about it, too. They want to see better racing and they're all talking about it. They're sending letters and e-mails to NASCAR, to the different race tracks and to the racing papers and all.

"At least I think that now NASCAR knows something needs to be done to bring back better competition and they're hearing it from just about every direction they turn," said Wallace. "The fans and sponsors, the TV guys and other media, the track owners and promoters - they're all asking for better competition. NASCAR's smart enough to know that something has to be done and they'll figure it out. It may take some time, but they'll get it figured out."

The Michigan speedway has been the site of several "firsts" during Wallace's 20-year career on stock car racing's most elite tour. He claimed his first career Winston Cup pole in qualifying for the June 1987 race at MIS. His win in the June 1988 event marked his first oval track superspeedway victory. His win in the June 1996 race came after getting superb fuel mileage and rates as his lone "fuel mileage victory" to date.

Wallace's career record at MIS sports five wins, 15 top-five finishes and 20 top-10 finishes in 39 races. His first career Winston Cup pole also rates as his lone top qualifying spot earned at the Michigan track.

Wallace started 17th and finished 12th in the June race at MIS.
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Sunday's GMS Marketplace 400 has a 1:30 p.m. EDT starting time and features live coverage by TNT-TV and MRN Radio.

-Rusty Wallace Career Track Records-
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
(2.0 miles)
Date Event Car St Fn Laps $ Won Status
6/15/03 Sirius Satellite 400 Dodge 17 12 200/200 $93,457 Running

6/16/02 Sirius Satellite 400 Ford 25 7 200/200 94,790 Running
8/18/02 Pepsi 400 Ford 37 24 200/200 87,015 Running

6/10/01 Kmart 400 Ford 18 41 118/200 79,940 Running
8/19/01 Pepsi 400 Ford 14 17 162/162 83,330 Running

6/11/00 Kmart 400 Ford 4 7 194/194 49,625 Running
8/20/00 Pepsi 400 Ford 10 1 200/200 110,460 Running

6/13/99 Kmart 400 Ford 13 12 198/200 42,200 Running
8/22/99 Pepsi 400 Ford 10 16 200/200 39,190 Running

6/14/98 Miller Lite 400 Ford 3 17 199/200 36,900 Running
8/16/98 Pepsi 400 Ford 11 23 198/200 33,965 Running

6/15/97 Miller 400 Ford 19 29 197/200 32,505 Fuel Out
8/17/97 DeVilbiss 400 Ford 43 13 200/200 36,165 Running

623/96 Miller 400 Ford 18 1 200/200 71,380 Running
8/18/96 GM Goodwrench 400 Ford 20 39 77/200 28,615 Engine

6/18/95 MGD 400 Ford 5 3 200/200 44,780 Running
8/20/95 GM Goodwrench 400 Ford 24 5 200/200 37,690 Running
6/19/94 MGD 400 Ford 5 1 200/200 66,980 Running
8/21/94 GM Goodwrench 400 Ford 7 4 200/200 34,070 Running
6/20/93 MGD 400 Pontiac 15 5 200/200 26,160 Running
8/15/93 Champion 400 Pontiac 10 6 200/200 24,115 Running
6/21/92 MGD 400 Pontiac 8 37 69/200 13,465 Cranksh.
8/16/92 Champion 400 Pontiac 33 21 198/200 15,040 Running
6/23/91 MGD 400 Pontiac 23 17 198/200 6,925 Running
8/18/91 Champion 400 Pontiac 9 3 200/200 23,600 Running
6/24/90 MGD 400 Pontiac 3 17 200/200 18,400 Running
8/19/90 Champion 400 Pontiac 6 3 200/200 33,900 Running
6/25/89 Miller 400 Pontiac 9 2 200/200 53,025 Running
8/20/89 Champion 400 Pontiac 2 1 200/200 67,900 Running
6/26/88 Miller 400 Pontiac 5 1 200/200 64,100 Running
8/21/88 Champion 400 Pontiac 7 2 200/200 37,200 Running
6/28/87 Miller 400 Pontiac 1 5 200/200 25,150 Running
8/16/87 Champion 400 Pontiac 20 4 200/200 20,650 Running
6/15/86 Miller 400 Pontiac 7 19 195/200 9,860 Running
8/17/86 Champion 400 Pontiac 7 6 199/200 12,525 Running
6/16/85 Miller 400 Pontiac 13 26 194/200 5,635 Running
8/11/85 Champion 400 Pontiac 26 7 199/200 11,395 Running
6/17/84 Miller 400 Pontiac 11 14 199/200 7,965 Running
8/12/84 Champion 400 Pontiac 8 35 93/200 2,715 Engine

Races Wins Top-5 Top-10 Poles $$$$$
Sirius Satellite 400 1 3 7 9 1 $843,242
Pepsi 400 19 2 8 11 0 739,540

TOTAL 39 5 15 20 1 $1,582,782

Lap completion percentage: 7,287/7,756 = 94.0%

RUSTY WALLACE/MILLER LITE TEAM PENSKE
2003 RACE RECORD/CAREER STATISTICAL BRIEF

Race Race Name Start Finish Laps comp/ Times Led/
Date Location Pos. Pos. Poss. Laps Laps Led $$$ Won Status/Comment

2/16 Daytona 500 38 25 109/109 0/0 185,625 Running/PC-33 pitted late
Daytona Beach, Fla. for oil on windshield
2/23 Subway 400 8 6 393/393 4/182# 103,710 Running/PC-54 was the
Rockingham, N.C. toughest for 2/3rds race
3/2 UAW/Chrysler 400 25 40 174/267 0/0 92,300 Accident/PC-47 crashed Las Vegas, Nevada by No. 4 in turn 1
3/9 Bass Pro/MBNA 500 7 15 324/325 0/0 88,092 Running/PC-43 slapped
Hampton, Ga. wall racing for 5th
3/16 Carolina Dodge 400 13 16 291/293 0/0 83,827 Running/PC-29 tough, but
Darlington, S.C. caution put 2 laps down
3/23 Food City 500 4 14 498/500 1/5 99,882 Running/New PC-60 lost
Bristol, Tenn. 2 laps on green pit stop
3/30 Samsung/R. Shack 500 10 14 333/334 0/0 126,692 Running/PC-51 again
Justin, Texas bitten after green stop
4/6 Aaron's 499 31 37 12/188 0/0 101,567 Accident/PC-33 caught
Talladega, Ala. in lap 4crash/returned
4/13 Virginia 500 5 8 500/500 1/13 91,217 Running/PC-49 tough;
Martinsville, Va. Great stops, then bad
4/27 Auto Club 500 7 3 250/250 2/54 146,917 Running/PC-51 was in
Fontana, Calif. a position to win
5/3 Pontiac 400 17 10 392/392 0/0 91,942 Running/New PC-57
Richmond, Va. Came back from run-in
5/25 Coca-Cola 600 34 12 275/276 0/0 117,542 Running/PC-43 hampered
Concord, N.C. by lug problem & rain
6/1 MBNA Family 400 2 6 400/400 1/41 110,097 Running/PC-54 tough
Dover, Delaware but tick too tight
6/8 Pocono 500 27 16 200/200 0/0 84,957 Running/PC-34 tight
Long Pond, Pa. with no practice
6/15 Sirius 400 17 12 200/200 0/0 93,457 Running/PC-51 was
Brooklyn, Mich. loose most of race
6/22 Dodge/Save Mart 350 7 8 110/110 0/0 99,482 Run ning/PC-39 spun
Sonoma, Calif. Then used fuel mileage
7/5 Pepsi 400 38 28 159/160 0/0 102,592 Running/New PC-58
Daytona Beach, Fla. damaged on pit road
7/13 Tropicana 400 22 32 249/267 0/0 96,042 Running/PC-43 up to 2nd
Joliet, Ill. changed transmissions
7/20 New England 300 11 17 300/300 0/0 91,667 Running/PC-49 tight in
Loudon, N.H. fuel mileage battle
7/28 Pennsylvania 500 7 11 200/200 3/23 88,107 Running/PC-34 tough
Long Pond, Pa. But too conservative?
8/3 Brickyard 400 14 10 160/160 0/0 175,967 Running/PC-53 was too
Indianapolis, Ind. Tight all race long
8/10 Sirius @ the Glen 5 37 84/90 0/0 78,492 Running/PC-39 brakes
Watkins Glen, N.Y. faded/stuck off track

# led most laps

2003 Season Recap: (points events)
Races Led/
Times Led/
Starts Wins Top-5s Top-10s Poles Laps Led Points Information
22 0 1 8 0 6/12/318 12th/2,519/-775 to 1st (#17)

Lap Completion Percentage 2002 Winnings Average Start: 15.9
5,613/5,914 = 94.9% $2,458,578 Average Finish: 17.1
DNFs: 2

Career Brief:

Starts Wins Top-5s Top-10s Poles Career $$$ Won
620 54 190 316 36 $36,835,927