Early Race Accident Diminishes Solid Run for Wallace

Top-15 Car, Relegated to 22nd-Place Finish

Steve Wallace

HOMESTEAD, Fla. (November 18, 2006) – Steve Wallace and the No. 64 Top-Flite Dodge team came to Homestead-Miami Speedway hoping for a good showing to help build momentum for the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series season. After qualifying ninth for Saturday’s Ford 300, it looked like Wallace and his team were on their way to just that. However, an early-race-accident caused notable damage to the Top-Flite Charger and the 19-year-old rookie would struggle for the remainder of the race to bring home a 22nd-place finish.

Throughout the first 50 laps of competition, Wallace kept the Top-Flite Dodge in and around the top-15, holding his own against many NEXTEL Cup regulars. Though he was running well, he reported that his Charger was experiencing tight handling conditions.

A caution on lap 44 permitted Wallace to bring his RWI Racing machine down pit road for four tires, fuel, and wedge and air pressure adjustments to remedy the handing issues. Wallace exited the pits in 18th-place, as not all cars opted to pit.

On the lap 52 restart, Wallace along with several other competitors were caught up in an unfortunate melee causing significant damage to the No. 64 Dodge. Wallace was back in the pits, where the Top-Flite crew worked to repair the damages incurred. Though Wallace’s car returned to competition, he would battle extremely loose handling conditions for the remainder of the race and ultimately bring home a 22nd-place finish.

Matt Kenseth captured his second consecutive NASCAR Busch Series victory. Kenseth held off Carl Edwards, Paul Menard, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick, who followed to complete the top-five.

Team owner Rusty Wallace and the No. 64 Top-Flite team finished the 2006 NASCAR Busch Series’ season 16th in owner point standings. The team accumulated 3,610 points in 2006, just 166 points out of the top-10.

RWI Racing Radio Chatter
During the final laps of the Ford 300, after battling a wrecked racecar for the majority of competition a frustrated Wallace and his spotter.
Spotter: Leaders at start/finish line
Wallace: Ugh! I wish I knew what it was like to run that good
Spotter: You will buddy. You’re still young; you’ll have plenty of time to run up front – you just need more practice
Wallace: I know, but I feel like an idiot running around in 20th
Spotter: I know bud, and this isn’t the last time you’ll feel like this. Now get your head back in the game and finish this thing
Wallace: 10-4. You know you sound like Wolf Man Jack
Spotter: You’re too young to know who Wolf Man Jack is
Wallace: 10-4

RWI Racing Quotes
Steve Wallace, pre-qualifying interview… “My car was a little tight all through practice, but the Top-Flite guys worked really hard, and I think we’ve found a pretty good set-up for the race. I’m looking to go out there and lay down a good lap, hopefully start towards the front and bring home a good top-15 for the Top-Flite team.”
Steve Wallace, post-race quote… “I’m really disappointed with my finish today. We had a really good car that could have finished in the top-10, but we got caught up in a wreck early on and struggled for the rest of the race. I was really hoping to get a good finish for the Top-Flite team this weekend to help build momentum for 2007; unfortunately it didn’t work out that way.”

Wallace’s Homestead Race Highlights
Wallace qualified ninth for the Ford 300, after spending 53 laps in the top-15 he finished 22nd
Wallace’s highest running position was fourth, his lowest 29th, after an accident on lap 54