Food City 500 - Rusty Wallace Notes

RUSTY WALLACE LOOKING FORWARD TO BRISTOL 'HOMECOMING"
-Miller Lite Dodge Team Celebrating Anniversary Of Rock-Solid Over-The-Wall Lineup-

BRISTOL, Tenn. (March 29, 2005) - To say that Miller Lite Dodge driver Rusty Wallace is looking forward to this weekend's return to Bristol Motor Speedway would be a huge understatement.

Riding the crest of momentum from the first four races of 2005, Wallace is ninth in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup point standings. The 1989 series champion is confident his "homecoming" return to BMS will spell more success and advance him further up the points ladder.

"Coming back home to Bristol couldn't happen at a better time than right now," said Wallace, who ranked 22nd in the point standings at this time last season. "We had a pretty rough day at Atlanta (finished 27th) the last time out and we know Bristol can give us the boost we're looking for.

"We tested a brand-spanking new race car there a few weeks back (on March 15) - our new (PRS-0) 90 car - and we know this little hot rod is ready to get the job done," said Wallace, the active statistical leader at BMS with nine career wins and 21 career top-five finishes in 42 races. "With this being another one of the 'impound' races, we were really focusing on our race setup during the test. We ran more than 200 laps the day we were there. We did put a qualifying setup in for a few laps. When we got the race setup where we could just take off and really be flying around the place many laps into the run, we knew it was time to load her up and head home."

"Every time we head back to Bristol, it's like a homecoming for me and with this being our next-to-last visit driving that No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, you just know that the emotions will be running high," said Wallace, who has led at least one lap in 27 races and a total of 3,577 laps in 42 races at Bristol, the most among active drivers.

Wallace's looking upon the Bristol track as his "home track" is totally understandable when you consider his illustrious history on the lightning-fast high-banked .533-mile oval. After all, Bristol is the site of his first win and his 50th. It's the location for nine victories and an amazing seven runner-up finishes - with several of those coming after getting bumped out of the way while leading on the final laps of the race. Wallace won three races and two poles in a four-race stretch in 1999-2000 and he wants more of that level of success.

He tongue-in cheek says he hit "hard times" on the concrete Tennessee half-mile after that. During the two-year, four-race period of 2001-2002, Wallace "only qualified as high as fourth" and could "only muster" two top-five finishes and four top-10s.

"Thank goodness that things got back to normal at Bristol last spring," Wallace said of last year's Food City 500, where Wallace started fourth and finished second. "We went through a long stretch there where it seemed like nothing could go wrong. We were winning all the poles and the races. Then, it was like overnight the luck changed where it felt like stuff was just falling from the sky and hitting us. Anyhow, it sure felt good to get back to normal there at Bristol in last year's spring race.

"In last spring's race, we brought another brand new car there and qualified up front," Wallace said of the PRS-073 Dodge. The team debuted that car with a fourth-place qualifying effort and second-place showing in the race. "We wasted little time grabbing the lead (on Lap 26) and led much of the race (four times for a total of 100 laps) before we got behind with 100 laps to go. We were running fifth and got all the way up to second and were giving (eventually winner Kurt) Busch a run for the money before the laps ran out. It was real frustrating because I've got to tell you sitting back there under the last caution flag; I really thought I had it won. I thought I could beat him because the car was so good all day long. We got going and I started scuffing the tires and I thought, 'what the heck is going on here?' With four laps to go, I lost all the power steering. I couldn't get it to turn left. I couldn't get it to turn right. It was all jammed up. It happened about 150 laps into the race where I couldn't get the wheels to turn. All of a sudden it cured itself and went away."

Wallace and his Larry Carter-led Miller Lite Team will be debuting yet another new Dodge - the PRS-090 -- in this weekend's Food City 500. The team will be looking to break a Dodge winless streak that dates back to 1975, when Richard Petty swept both races.

"Bristol's always been like a home track to me," said Wallace, who'll be making his 675th career start (666th consecutive) this weekend at Bristol. "I've always been quick to call it my favorite racetrack. The fact that I won my first race there back in 1986, the fact that we've always had so much success there, the fact that we have such a big following of race fans in the area and having the auto dealerships just down the road from the place -- all add up to making it like a homecoming every time we go to Bristol. It has always been a special place for us and always will be.

"We're just hoping to taste some more success there again this weekend," said Wallace. The statistics illustrate just how strong he has been through the years at BMS. He has an 8.0 starting average and a 9.6 average finish in his 42 races there and is the only active driver to have a starting and finishing average of 10th or better. "We were close to getting our 10th win there last spring. Hopefully we can get that job completed this weekend."

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This weekend's Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway also marks the anniversary of the first race contested with Rusty Wallace's current Miller Lite Dodge "over-the-wall gang."

"The big turning point for our pit stops getting where they needed to be was when we hired Jay and brought him in for this race last year," crew chief Larry Carter said of front tire changer Jay Hackney, a native of nearby Haysi, Va., and a former member of Morgan-McClure Racing.

"We already had begun putting a great group of guys together, but it was like Jay was the missing link that sealed the deal," Carter explained.

After experiencing setbacks in several 2004 races prior to Bristol due to problems on pit road, Wallace's revamped "over-the-wall gang" for Bristol performed tremendously. Hackney was brought aboard the team earlier in the week to change front tires. Donald "D.J." Richardson moved from the front to the back to change rear tires. The rest of the lineup remained the same (Dave Littau carried front tires, Andy Brown carried rears, David Cox jacked, Doug Ingold gassed and Nick Giambruno served as the gas catch man) and the combination clicked from the very start.

On the first pit stop of the day in last year's race, which occurred under the first caution of the race on Lap 61, the crew serviced Wallace's Dodge in 13.21 seconds, the fastest stop the team had enjoyed all season. That kept Wallace in the lead, set the pace for the remainder of the race (stops of 15.17 seconds, 14.68 seconds, 13.20 seconds and 13.68 seconds) and gave the team an average of 13.98 seconds for their pit stops for the day.

The team continues to get faster and more consistent. In the March 20 Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta, the "gang" averaged 13.016 seconds for their seven true four-tires-and-fuel pit stops. The fast work in the pits was highlighted by an unbelievable 12.181-second stop late in the race. Wallace's crew won the $10,000 Checkers/Rally's Double Drive-Thru Challenge competition for their fast work during the Feb. 27 Auto Club 500 at California Speedway.

"We look at our work on pit road as being a huge asset for our team and it wasn't that long ago it certainly wasn't that way," said Carter. "We have the right guys in all the right places and they have a great time out there. When they reel off one of those fast stops during the race, I really get a kick out of climbing down off the box and watch the taped replay. Their performances have been something that Rusty, me and the entire team are really proud of."

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With NASCAR's new "impound rule" in effect once again this weekend at Bristol, the Food City 500 abbreviated schedule for the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup teams calls for practice on Friday from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. (no broadcast scheduled). The single round of qualifying is set to begin at 5:40 p.m. (live coverage on Speed Channel and PRN Radio) with the cars impounded immediately after. There is no NEXTEL Cup activity on Saturday. Sunday's Food City 500 has a scheduled 1:15 p.m. ET starting time, with live coverage by FOX-TV and PRN Radio beginning 45 minutes earlier.

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Notes of interest:

--Rusty and his Larry Carter-led Miller Lite Team will be debuting yet another new Dodge - the PRS-090 -- in this weekend's Food City 500. The team will be looking to break a Dodge winless streak that dates back to 1975, when Richard Petty swept both races. (more in release)

--Rusty's "homecoming" -- "Bristol's always been like a home track to me," said Rusty, who'll be making his 675th career start (666th consecutive) this weekend at Bristol. "I've always been quick to call it my favorite racetrack. The fact that I won my first race there back in 1986, the fact that we've always had so much success there, the fact that we have such a big following of race fans in the area and having the auto dealerships just down the road from the place -- all add up to making it like a homecoming every time we go to Bristol. It has always been a special place for us and always will be.

--"Every time we head back to Bristol, it's like a homecoming for me and with this being our next-to-last visit driving that No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge, you just know that the emotions will be running high," said Rusty, who has led at least one lap in 27 races and a total of 3,577 laps in 42 races at Bristol, the most among active drivers.

--Anniversary of Rusty's "over-the-wall gang" this weekend at Bristol --"We look at our work on pit road as being a huge asset for our team and it wasn't that long ago it certainly wasn't that way," said crew chief Larry Carter. "We have the right guys in all the right places and they have a great time out there. When they reel off one of those fast stops during the race, I really get a kick out of climbing down off the box and watch the taped replay. Their performances have been something that Rusty, me and the entire team are really proud of."

* * *

Rusty Wallace, driver of the Miller Lite Dodge Charger, recently sat down for a brief "Q & A" session with Bristol Motor Speedway's Lori Worley. A transcript of that session follows:

(Q.) Bristol's coming up soon and that track is usually pretty good to you. What is it about Bristol that makes you feel like you're always one of the favorites?

(A.) "It's always been the deal with me that whenever we go to a track that we've done well at, there's just a big boost in the confidence level. There's no other place like Bristol for me. I've always said it felt like my home track and there are so many reasons for that. As for confidence on the Bristol track, when you've had all the success we've enjoyed through the years - nine wins and seven poles - hell, it's easy to get all jacked up every single time we go there. It's where I won my first race. I've always said that running all the Saturday night bullrings across the country made is easier to run at Bristol. It's my favorite track and I have never denied that. As a matter of fact, I've always gone out of my way to make it known how much I love the place. I've always had a ton of fans in that area and with all the dealerships down the road, it's as much of a home track feel that I can get anywhere."

(Q.) At this point in your career, what would another Bristol win mean to you?

(A.) "It would mean a ton to me. We used to go there expecting to win every race - not just us, but the fans and the other competitors looked at me and my team as the guys to beat each and every time we hit Bristol. It would be absolutely tremendous to win at Bristol and I think we have more success in store for that track. The fact that we won our first race there - we won our 50th race there - it'll always be a special place and my personal favorite track. We'll definitely be back there with both barrels loaded for the two races there this year."

(Q.) What do you think about Bristol not being a factor in the final 10 races of the season when the chase for the championship supposedly begins?

(A.) "You know, I have mixed emotions about that whole deal. I really would like to see Bristol as part of the equation and maybe if it works this year, they'll rotate the races around to where Bristol will be part of it in the future. I think that in a perfect world, there should be a total mix of races there in the final 10 - I mean races at all kinds of tracks. There should be a Bristol, a Charlotte, a Phoenix and even a road course thrown in there, too. Now if it were a situation where I could personally choose those races, they'd ask what the hell I meant by racing five of 'em at Bristol and the other five at Richmond. Yeah, but that'll never happen. But I guess old Rusty can still dream about it, can't he?"

(Q.) Does the new points system help or hurt the sport? If so, why?

(A.) "Without a doubt, the jury's out on that one and will be until we get into those final 10 races. I think I've been maybe a little too vocal worrying about the possible negative impact on the sponsors and all, but I am concerned about it. I'd say that they'll have a helluva deal at Richmond in the 26th race this fall. The big question is what the feeling will be from the fans and sponsors about the teams that are not there in the heat of the battle. Oh well, these are the rules that everybody's playing by this season. We have to accept that and do our best to get there in the top 10 and be active players in the big picture deal at the end of the season. I'll tell you this - if I'm sitting there in 10th place before the last 10 races and I'm 400 points out of the lead - then I make the cut and get back to only being 50 points out, I'm the happiest guy in racing at that time. Like I said, the jury's out on that one. We'll all just have to wait and see how it shakes out."

(Q.) This is your 21st year in racing... compare the racers you raced against early in your career to the guys you're racing against now.

(A.) "I think it was so much more laid back years ago. I mean that all those guys - like Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson, Richard Petty - all of 'em heroes of mine for sure - they were as competitive as could possibly be, but the fact that the sport wasn't as evolved as it is now, it was certainly a lot more down to earth. I think the drivers back then had a whole lot more respect for the sport and they made sure that the younger guys coming in learned to respect it as much as they did. Somewhere along the way, I think we've probably lost a lot of that. That's what I say when I'm asked about all the young guys coming into the sport these days. I tend to like the guys who come in with respect for our sport and I will point blank tell you that I don't care for those who don't."

(Q.) If you could go back in time, would you rather be racing in the 80s or racing now? Why?

(A.) "That's a good question and a pretty hard one to answer. You know, from a money standpoint, you darned sure would rather be doing this now. But from a total career standpoint, hell I wouldn't take anything for being able to race against all the greats - not just the guys I mentioned before. What about all the battles that Dale (Earnhardt Sr.) and I had during the 80s? Man, those deals are pretty much legendary when you look back. I think it's sad that some of these guys here today never had the chance to race with Dale and never will. Nah, I don't think I'd change anything and I'm happy and proud to have been part of the scene back in the 80s and 90s."

(Q.) What's the best thing about NASCAR right now? Worst thing?

(A.) "The best thing - heck where do I start - everything is great. The sport is at the top of the heap when it comes to all the sports. The TV numbers are super and the fan base is growing bigger and bigger every day. Personally, I think that the rules changes to the softer tires and the less downforce is gonna' give the fans even better racing and more excitement. It's just incredible how far the sport has gone and I think it will continue an upward spiral. The downside to it all is probably the unbelievable rise in the costs to do all of this. It's getting more and more expensive every day. I think we're racing too much, too. We need to be racing about 30 races a year. I like the expansion we've done and I hope we get to spread out even further. We need to be in Seattle. We need to be in New York City. We need to continue to expand. But, the bottom line is that we need a 30-race schedule and to go to some of these places only once a season. I'm definitely not complaining about anything, but you asked the question and there you have it."

(Q.) Look into the future... where do you see NASCAR in 10 years?

(A.) "From a personal standpoint, I hope the sport is still growing by leaps and bounds - that the fans are still chomping at the bit to get tickets to these things - that the Bristol ticket is still the hottest thing going. Thought I'd throw that in there for good measure. I hope that my Busch Series team is going full blast and that we've won a ton of races and some championships. I hope that my son, Stephen, is one of the superstars of the sport. That's not necessarily what I predict, but it's what I hope happens. Heck, I'll just go out on the limb and say that all of that is what I predict will happen, too."

(Q.) In the context of great drivers, you're definitely one of the best of all time. How do you think your competitors would describe you, as well as your driving style? How would you like for them to think of you?

(A.) "Well, I'd hope they'd say that I was a good and clean competitor who did a lot for the sport - somebody who cared about the sport, the fans and the other competitors. I'd hope that they'd say that I was a helluva competitive driver who always strived to do the best he could - that I was very aggressive, but not over the line - that I was fair, but did all I could to excel. Hopefully, I've done a good job of making my mark and will be remembered like that when the day comes to hang up my helmet."

(Q.) If you had to compare yourself to any great driver of the past, who would it be and why?

(A.) "Gosh, that's really hard to say. I'd like to think that maybe I'd have some aspects of several drivers thrown into the mix. I always thought of Bobby Allison as my favorite driver, so I'd hope they'd say that I had some of his qualities. My old buddy Earnhardt - that I had the desire and the competitive fire that he always had. And maybe some Richard Petty thrown in there in that I am a good ambassador for the sport - a good representative of NASCAR racing through all the years."

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Bristol Motor Speedway holds many highlights for Rusty Wallace through the years. Here is a quick look back:

1) Apr. 6, 1986 -- Wallace started 14th and led three times for a total of 174 laps en route to his first career NASCAR Winston Cup victory. It came in his 72nd series start and only his fifth at Bristol.

2) Aug. 26, 1988 -- Wallace involved in one of the most horrendous crashes of his career. In practice, he blew a right front tire and launched off the fourth-turn wall, flipping wildly down the frontstretch. Miraculously, he started the race the next evening, turning the driving duties over to Larry Pearson at his first opportunity. The performance was good enough for a ninth-place finish and kept Wallace in the thick of the season's points battle.

3) Apr. 9, 1989 -- Wallace started eighth and dominated to win his third of six races during the season. Wallace would go on to win three more races in his run to the season's points championship.

4) Apr. 14, 1991 -- Wallace took his Penske Racing South Pontiac entry from the pole to Victory Lane in only the sixth start for the new team.

5) Apr. 4, 1993 -- Wallace won the pole the day after driving friend Alan Kulwicki perished in plane crash while attempting to land at an area airport. Pitting in the spot reserved for the absent defending series champion, Wallace recorded his fourth Bristol win. He paid tribute to the fallen champion by performing Kulwicki's patented "Polish Victory Lap" after taking the checkered flag.

6) Aug. 26, 1995 -- An early race "punt" by Dale Earnhardt put Wallace into the wall and out of action for 46 laps before he returned to the race. Wallace retaliated after the race with some harsh words for Earnhardt and by throwing and connecting with a plastic water bottle.

7) Aug. 24, 1996 -- Wearing a "neon yellow" driving suit for the first, last and only time in his career, Wallace started fifth and dominated to post his sixth career Bristol win. With his Miller-sponsored "teammates" from Don Prudhomme's NHRA team joining in the Victory Lane celebration, Wallace named his winning ride "Snake" in honor of his legendary drag racing friend.

8) Apr. 13, 1997 -- The first famous 'love tap' episode with Jeff Gordon. Wallace had won the pole and led the most laps (4 times for 240 laps) leading up to the incident that has been forever used in the sport's video highlights. Wallace had taken the lead for the final time on lap 415 and led the race until the last turn of the last lap when contact from the rear applied by Gordon got Wallace out of shape enough to allow Gordon to pass for the win.

9) Apr. 11, 1999 -- Wallace started from the pole and gave his own lecture on the term "dominance." Leading 425 of the 500 laps, Wallace named the car 'Banker' in Victory Lane because of the Bristol high banks and the team taking the big money to the bank. "It doesn't get any cooler than this," Wallace said in the press box after the win.

10) Apr. 26, 2000 -- Wallace started sixth and led three times for 86 laps, including the final 76 circuits en route to the win, his second spring Bristol race victory in as many years and most importantly -- his 50th career win that had been so elusive.

11) Aug. 26, 2000 -- Wallace started from the pole in race record fashion and led five times for a total of 279 laps en route to his 53rd career win overall and his ninth at Bristol. It marked the first time he won both Bristol races in the same season.

12) Aug. 24, 2002 - A "bump and run" by Gordon with only a couple of laps remaining saw Gordon pass Wallace and go on to win and end his winless streak, while Wallace's own winless streak continued. Wallace debuted the new PRS-54 in the race. It was Wallace's sixth career runner-up finish at Bristol.

13) March 28, 2004 - Wallace started his new PRS-73 Dodge fourth. He was in the lead at Lap 26. He led four times for 100 laps en route to his seventh career runner-up finish on the .533-mile high-banked Bristol track. He finished a scant .428 seconds behind winner Kurt Busch for his seventh runner-up finish at BMS and his 21st top-five finishes in 42 career starts.