KENNY WALLACE, SNICKERS® RACING
RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY
SEPTEMBER 8, 2007
KENNY WALLACE WILL DRIVE #88 SNICKERS® FORD AT RICHMOND
CHARLOTTE, NC (September 5, 2007) – The NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series travels Richmond International Raceway this weekend for Saturday night’s Chevy Rock and Roll 400. Ricky Rudd who normally pilots the #88 Snickers Ford will not race this weekend as a result of a separated left shoulder he sustained during last weekend’s Sharp AQUOS 500 at California Speedway. Team owner, Robert Yates selected Kenny Wallace to substitute in for Rudd this weekend at Richmond. Rudd has previously never missed a race due to injury and holds the title of NASCAR’s “Iron Man” with his current record of 788 consecutive starts, the most of any other NEXTEL Cup Series driver. Rudd will receive an evaluation next week to determine if he will be able to return as the driver of the #88 for the September 16th race at New Hampshire.
Quoting Snickers Driver, Kenny Wallace:
How does it feel to step into the #88 Snickers Ford to sub for Ricky Rudd this weekend?
“I think what makes me feel comfortable about this weekend is that Ricky was at the shop this morning (Wednesday) and we had a really good talk, and I told him that he could help speed my process up by showing up at the race track and helping me with the lingo he normally uses to describe the car’s handling to Crew Chief Butch Hylton. Ricky was super good about the whole situation of me stepping into the Snickers Ford for this weekend so that makes me feel really good. It’s a lot easier when the driver that is hurt is really behind you and I’ve known Ricky for a long time.
Are there any challenges you face heading into Richmond in just a few days?
“I think the only challenge I have in front of me is the challenge to be successful. Every week you’re out there to prove your self-worth. I’m going in there to do business. There’s nothing funny about this situation at all. I’m dead focused because I’m fighting to have a ride next year and hopefully I’ll be able to prove my self worth.”
NOTES OF INTEREST:
Jimmy Rollins, mechanic on the #88 team, is a graduate of J.R. Tucker High School in Richmond, VA where he played football and was a Virginia All-America team member
Wallace has an average starting position of 21.3, and an average finish of 26.4 at Richmond
Wallace has completed 8,347 of 9,193 laps at Richmond (90.8 percent) and has led three laps
Wallace’s best start at Richmond is from second which he accomplished in 1999
Wallace’s best finish at Richmond is 11th which he accomplished on September 12, 1998
ABOUT MARS US:
Mars US is the United States food, snack and pet care operations of Mars, Incorporated, one of the world's leading food manufacturers. With more than $7 billion in annual sales in the U.S., the combined food, snack and pet care segments are a symbol of excellence for quality brands. Headquartered in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Mars US employs more than 9,000 associates in the United States, with 52 facilities nationwide. The company owns some of the world's favorite brands, including M&M'S® Brand, SNICKERS® Brand, UNCLE BEN'S® Brand, PEDIGREE® Brand Food for Dogs, and WHISKAS® Brand Food for Cats.
CHASSIS #711
Chassis #711 is the chassis the #88 Snickers Racing team will be running this weekend for the Chevy Rock and Roll 400. This is the same Car of Tomorrow chassis the team raced earlier in the season at Richmond for the Jim Stewart 400 as well as at New Hampshire for the LENOX Industrial Tools 300.
