Stephen Wallace (born August 18, 1987) is an American
stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing run on oval tracks and road courses measuring approximately . It originally used production-model cars, hence the name "stock car", but is now run using cars specifically built for racing. It ori ...
driver. A current
super late model
A late model car is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. (An early model car or classic car is a car old enough to be of historical interest; there is no usual intermediate term.)
The precise definition ...
racer, he is the son of 1989
Winston Cup
The NASCAR Cup Series is the top racing series of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR). The series began in 1949 as the Strictly Stock Division, and from 1950 to 1970 it was known as the Grand National Division. In 1971, ...
champion
Rusty Wallace
Russell William "Rusty" Wallace Jr. (born August 14, 1956) is an American former NASCAR racing driver. He has won the 1984 NASCAR Cup series Rookie of the Year and the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. Over the course of his successful care ...
, the nephew of NASCAR drivers
Kenny
Kenny is a surname, a given name, and a diminutive of several different given names.
In Ireland, the surname is an Anglicisation of the Irish language, Irish ''Ó Cionnaith'', also spelt ''Ó Cionnaoith'' and ''Ó Cionaodha'', meaning "descendant ...
and
Mike Wallace
Myron Leon Wallace (May 9, 1918 – April 7, 2012) was an American journalist, game show host, actor, and media personality. He interviewed a wide range of prominent newsmakers during his seven-decade career. He was one of the original correspo ...
, and cousin of
Chrissy Wallace
Chrissy Wallace (born May 15, 1988) is an American stock car racing driver. She is the daughter of NASCAR driver Mike Wallace (racing driver), Mike Wallace, niece of Rusty Wallace and Kenny Wallace, cousin of Steve Wallace (racing driver), Steve ...
. Steve has made starts in all three of NASCAR's national series as well as the
ARCA Racing Series
The ARCA Menards Series is an American stock car series, the premier division of the Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA). It is considered a minor, semi-professional league of stock car racing, used as a feeder series into the three national ...
, and won the
Snowball Derby
The Snowball Derby presented by Bayou Fox Hooters is a 300-lap super late model stock car race held annually at the Five Flags Speedway, a half-mile paved oval track in Pensacola, Florida, United States. The race has been contested every year sin ...
in 2004.
Racing career
Early racing
Between 1998 and 2002, Wallace raced in INEX
Bandoleros. He captured multiple series championships. Steve raced in
Legends cars
A legend is a historical narrative, a symbolic representation of folk belief.
Legend(s) or The Legend(s) may also refer to:
Narrative
* Urban legend, a widely repeated story of dubious truth
* A fictitious identity used in espionage
Books, co ...
and
late model
A late model car is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. (An early model car or classic car is a car old enough to be of historical interest; there is no usual intermediate term.)
The precise definition ...
racecars near his hometown of
Mooresville, North Carolina
Mooresville is a large town located in the southwestern section of Iredell County, North Carolina, United States, and is a part of the fast-growing Charlotte metropolitan area. The population was 50,193 at the 2020 United States Census making it ...
. He won both the Summer Shootout (twice) and Winter Shootout (once) at
Lowe's Motor Speedway
Charlotte Motor Speedway (previously known as Lowe's Motor Speedway from 1999 to 2009) is a motorsport complex located in Concord, North Carolina, outside Charlotte. The complex features a quad oval track that hosts NASCAR racing including th ...
. He also won multiple championships at
Concord Motor Speedway. In December 2004, at the age of 17, he won one of the biggest short track races in the country, the
Snowball Derby
The Snowball Derby presented by Bayou Fox Hooters is a 300-lap super late model stock car race held annually at the Five Flags Speedway, a half-mile paved oval track in Pensacola, Florida, United States. The race has been contested every year sin ...
, in
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola () is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, and the county seat and only incorporated city of Escambia County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 54,312. Pensacola is the principal ...
, a race Rusty and Kenny both entered, but failed to win in their careers. Steve was also the 2004 UARA Rookie of The Year. He won the first ever late model race at
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Bristol is among the m ...
.
In 2005, he ran nearly the entire season in
USAR Hooters Pro Cup
The CARS Solid Rock Carriers Tour (formerly known as the USARacing Pro Cup Series, USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, CARS Pro Cup Series, Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series, CARS X1-R Pro Cup Series) is a stock car auto racing series in the United States. It is s ...
competition. He finished with 3 Top 10 finishes and qualified for the post-season championship series. A day after Steve turned 18, he became the youngest winner at a
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway (MIS) is a moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than approximately south of the village of Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is ...
event in an
ARCA race while driving a
Penske Racing
Team Penske (formerly Penske Racing) is an American professional auto racing organization, competing in the NTT IndyCar Series, NASCAR Cup Series, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. Debuting at the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona, the organiza ...
Dodge
Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...
. He raced in
ARCA with several other teams that season. He also finished 15th in his first
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, LLC (NASCAR) is an American auto racing sanctioning and operating company that is best known for stock car racing. The privately owned company was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1948, and hi ...
Nationwide Series
The NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) is a stock car racing series organized by NASCAR. It is promoted as NASCAR's second-tier circuit to the organization's top level Cup Series. NXS events are frequently held as a support race on the day prior to a ...
race at
Memphis Motorsports Park
Memphis International Raceway (formerly known as Memphis Motorsports Park) was an auto racing park located near the Loosahatchie River in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, just approximately ten miles south of Millington, and a few miles ...
(after starting 11th). Wallace became part of the
Dodge
Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...
factory driver development program.
Nationwide Series
![SteveWallaceChevroletMilwaukeeMile2009](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/SteveWallaceChevroletMilwaukeeMile2009.jpg)
Wallace raced 17 races in the #64
Dodge
Dodge is an American brand of automobiles and a division of Stellantis, based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Dodge vehicles have historically included performance cars, and for much of its existence Dodge was Chrysler's mid-priced brand above P ...
Nationwide Series
The NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) is a stock car racing series organized by NASCAR. It is promoted as NASCAR's second-tier circuit to the organization's top level Cup Series. NXS events are frequently held as a support race on the day prior to a ...
car in
2006
File:2006 Events Collage V1.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2006 Winter Olympics open in Turin; Twitter is founded and launched by Jack Dorsey; The Nintendo Wii is released; Montenegro 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum, votes to declare ...
(sharing with
Jamie McMurray
James Christopher McMurray (born June 3, 1976), nicknamed Jamie Mac, is an American former professional stock car racing driver and currently an analyst for ''Fox NASCAR''. He raced in the NASCAR Cup Series on a full-time basis from 2003 to 2018 b ...
), as well as six
ARCA series races in a
Penske Racing
Team Penske (formerly Penske Racing) is an American professional auto racing organization, competing in the NTT IndyCar Series, NASCAR Cup Series, and the FIA World Endurance Championship. Debuting at the 1966 24 Hours of Daytona, the organiza ...
car. Wallace won ARCA races at
Michigan International Speedway
Michigan International Speedway (MIS) is a moderate-banked D-shaped speedway located off U.S. Highway 12 on more than approximately south of the village of Brooklyn, in the scenic Irish Hills area of southeastern Michigan. The track is ...
and
Kentucky Speedway
Kentucky Speedway is a tri-oval speedway in Sparta, Kentucky, which has hosted ARCA, NASCAR and Indy Racing League racing annually since it opened in 2000. The track is currently owned and operated by Speedway Motorsports, Inc. Before 2008 J ...
, and had a best finish of 11th in the Busch Series.
For the
2007 NASCAR Busch Series season he would race full-time. He won his first career pole at
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol Motor Speedway, formerly known as Bristol International Raceway and Bristol Raceway, is a NASCAR short track venue located in Bristol, Tennessee. Constructed in 1960, it held its first NASCAR race on July 30, 1961. Bristol is among the m ...
. Steve Wallace won his second pole on June 9, 2007, at
Nashville Superspeedway
Nashville Superspeedway is a motor racing complex located in Gladeville, Tennessee, United States (though the track has a Lebanon postal address), about southeast of Nashville. The track was built in 2001 and is currently hosting the Ally 400, ...
in
Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon is the county seat of Wilson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 38,431 at the 2020 census. Lebanon is located in Middle Tennessee, approximately east of downtown Nashville. Lebanon is part of the Nashville Metropolit ...
. Before the conclusion of the 2007 Nationwide Series Season, it was announced that Wallace would be switching from Dodge to Chevy for the 2008 Season.
His first career top five came at Richmond International Raceway on May 2, 2008.
At the beginning of the 2012 season, he was without a car because of the temporary closure of Rusty Wallace Racing. After missing the first six races, he announced that he would make his first start of the season at Richmond International Speedway during the
Virginia 529 College Savings 250
The Go Bowling 250 was a NASCAR Xfinity Series stock car race that took place at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia in the month of September. It is held the night before the NASCAR Cup Series race, the Federated Auto Parts 400. Noah Grags ...
.
Sprint Cup Series
Wallace made his Cup Series debut in the
2011 Daytona 500
The 2011 Daytona 500, the 53rd running of the event, was held on February 20, 2011 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida as the first race of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season. Trevor Bayne, driving for Wood Bro ...
. Penske Racing transferred the owner points of his No. 77, whose 30th-place finish in 2010 guaranteed Wallace a start. He drove the No. 77 Toyota to a 20th-place finish.
Camping World Truck Series
In 2010 Wallace ran a partial Truck Series Schedule for
Billy Ballew Motorsports
Billy Ballew Motorsports was a team that competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. They were formed in 1996 by Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia businessman Billy Ballew.
Fasscore Motorsports
In 2003, Ballew began running a second truck u ...
finishing fourth in his debut at
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
.
On July 10, 2013, it was announced that Wallace will return to the Truck Series with
Adrian Carriers Racing for four races starting with the
American Ethanol 200
The M&M's 200 presented by Casey's General Stores was a 200-lap NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series race held at Iowa Speedway in Newton, Iowa
Newton is the county seat of, and most populous city in, Jasper County, Iowa, United States. Loca ...
.
Super late model career
After his NASCAR career ended, Wallace began racing
super late model
A late model car is a car which has been recently designed or manufactured, often the latest model. (An early model car or classic car is a car old enough to be of historical interest; there is no usual intermediate term.)
The precise definition ...
race cars. At a
CARS Tour
The CARS Solid Rock Carriers Tour (formerly known as the USARacing Pro Cup Series, USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series, CARS Pro Cup Series, Rev-Oil Pro Cup Series, CARS X1-R Pro Cup Series) is a stock car auto racing series in the United States. It is s ...
-sanctioned race at
Fairgrounds Speedway
Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway is a motorsport racetrack located at the Nashville Fairgrounds near downtown Nashville, Tennessee. The track is the second-oldest continually operating track in the United States. The track held NASCAR Grand Natio ...
in 2018, Wallace was parked early in the race for wrecking
Mason Mingus
Mason Mingus (born November 28, 1994) is an American professional stock car racing driver who competes part-time in the ARCA Menards Series East, driving the No. 11 for Fast Track Racing, as well as part-time in the ARCA/CRA Super Series, driving ...
and later fought with Mingus and his
Wauters Motorsports
Wauters Motorsports was an American professional stock car racing team that competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, fielding the No. 5 Toyota Tundra part-time. The team also competes in late models. The team is primarily owned by Waute ...
team. After the fight, Wallace said that the incident was one worthy of the beginning of a war.
Personal life
Wallace is the youngest son of ESPN announcer and former NASCAR driver
Rusty Wallace
Russell William "Rusty" Wallace Jr. (born August 14, 1956) is an American former NASCAR racing driver. He has won the 1984 NASCAR Cup series Rookie of the Year and the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Championship. Over the course of his successful care ...
. He has been diagnosed with
Tourette syndrome
Tourette syndrome or Tourette's syndrome (abbreviated as TS or Tourette's) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood or adolescence. It is characterized by multiple movement (motor) tics and at least one vocal (phonic) ...
.
Wallace family business breeds tension.
Associated Press, ''Sporting News'' (January 28, 2007). Retrieved on February 10, 2011.
Images
File:66SteveWallace2010Bucyrus200RoadAmerica.jpg, 2010 Nationwide car
File:Steve Wallace NASCAR Nationwide Road America 2011.jpg, Wallace waving to the crowd before 2011 Nationwide race
File:Nationwide 66 Steve Wallace 2011 Road America Bucyrus 200.jpg, 2011 Nationwide car
Motorsports career results
NASCAR
(key
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
) (Bold - Pole position awarded by time. ''Italics'' - Pole position earned by points standings. * – Most laps led.)
Sprint Cup Series
=Daytona 500
=
Nationwide Series
Camping World Truck Series
Ineligible for series points
ARCA Re/Max Series
(key
Key or The Key may refer to:
Common meanings
* Key (cryptography), a piece of information that controls the operation of a cryptography algorithm
* Key (lock), device used to control access to places or facilities restricted by a lock
* Key (map ...
) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. ''Italics'' – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
References
External links
*
*
Things looking up for Wallace's son in Gateway races
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wallace, Steve
Living people
1987 births
Racing drivers from Charlotte, North Carolina
NASCAR drivers
ARCA Menards Series drivers
CARS Tour drivers
People with Tourette syndrome
Wallace family
ARCA Midwest Tour drivers