Steve Wallace (racing driver)
| Steve Wallace | |||||||
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| Awards | 2006 ARCA RE/MAX Series Pole Award Champion
2004 Snowball Derby Winner 2004 UARA Rookie of the Year Updated On January 13, 2008 | ||||||
| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| Car no., team |
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| 2007 position | 19th | ||||||
| Best finish | 19th - [2007 NASCAR Busch Series-1st full season] | ||||||
| First race | 2005 Sam's Town 250 (Memphis) | ||||||
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One of NASCAR’s fastest, most promising and most well-pedigreed young talents, Steve Wallace, the youngest son of NASCAR legend, Rusty Wallace, charges into his second full Nationwide Series season upon a wave of confidence, following several off-season changes at his No. 66 team. Those changes, designed to make Wallace a championship contender, were highlighted by the hiring of former champion, Harold Holly as Wallace’s crew chief, a switch to Chevrolet and the fielding of a second team out of the Rusty Wallace Racing stables.
Early racing
While a teenage Wallace garnered much attention in the 2007 Nationwide Series, he was previously one of the biggest stories of the year in the 2006 ARCA season as well. The third-generation speedster steered his No. 61 machine to three wins and a series-high four poles in 2006, despite attempting only eight of the 24 events. En route to the season-long pole award, Steve failed to start from the front row only once. He finished outside of the top-five only twice and outside the top-ten only one time.
Steve was turning heads in the racing world long before 2006 and 2007, however. 2004 was a breakout season for Wallace, a former INEX Bandolero Car National Champion, as he won the 37th annual running of the Snowball Derby, one of America’s premier short track stock car events. In doing so, Steve became the youngest winner in the event’s history and accomplished a feat which his legendary father unsuccessfully attempted nine times. 2004 also saw Wallace enjoy success in the UARA-STARS series, where he won three of the final four events, earned three poles and set three track records en route to the Rookie of the Year title. During that run, Wallace continued in his famous father’s footsteps, by capturing victory in the inaugural late model stock car event at Bristol Motor Speedway. Steve followed up his 2004 success with even more in the 2005 season. In late 2005, he won his first career ARCA RE/MAX Series race, capturing the checkers at Michigan International Speedway in August. By doing so, he became the youngest professional event winner in MIS history, at 18 years and one day. The event was Wallace’s first-ever race on a track over one mile.
NASCAR Busch Series Career
Steve completed his first full Nationwide Series season in 2007, a year which ran the gamut of emotions for the young wheelman. Highlighted by a pair of pole wins at Nashville and Bristol, where the then-teenager outgunned 20-plus “Cup” Series drivers to win the pole in only his 24th career qualifying attempt, the 2007 season also helped Wallace learn the realities of racing’s big leagues. None of these lessons were tougher than a late-race accident at Kentucky, in which Wallace, seemingly poised to earn his first career win, made contact with Carl Edwards while racing for the lead. With these lessons learned and his No. 66 team seemingly stronger than ever, Wallace expects to be a true contender for the 2008 Nationwide Series crown.
Facing stiff competition from a bevy of NASCAR NEXTEL Cup drivers, Steve had an impressive showing in his 2006 rookie season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series as well. The teenager proved that he had the speed to compete in racing’s big leagues, as he earned three top-five and seven top-ten starts in his 17-race 2006 Nationwide Series campaign.
Personal life
Steve Wallace currently resides in the Charlotte, NC vicinity. When not wheeling the No. 66 Rusty Wallace Racing Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS, Steve enjoys motocross riding, fishing and remote control cars. For more on Steve, please visit www.stevewallaceonline.com and www.rustywallace.com.