Kenny Wallace
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Wallace is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 stock car
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...

 driver who currently drives the #09 Family Farmers
Family farm
A family farm is a farm owned and operated by a family, and often passed down from generation to generation. It is the basic unit of the mostly agricultural economy of much of human history and continues to be so in developing nations...

/University of Northwestern Ohio
University of Northwestern Ohio
The University of Northwestern Ohio is a private, not-for-profit University founded in 1920. Within the university are five colleges: College of Business, College of Applied Technologies, College of Health Professions, College of Occupational Professions, and the Graduate College. Online degrees...

/Federated Auto Parts/American Ethanol
Ethanol fuel
Ethanol fuel is ethanol , the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages. It is most often used as a motor fuel, mainly as a biofuel additive for gasoline. World ethanol production for transport fuel tripled between 2000 and 2007 from 17 billion to more than 52 billion litres...

/Iowa Corn/G-Oil/Marquis Energy Toyota Camry
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world...

 for RAB Racing
RAB Racing
RAB Racing with Brack Maggard is a team the competes in the NASCAR Nationwide Series and formerly the ARCA RE/MAX Series. It is co-owned by former NASCAR driver Robert A. Benton Sr. and his son Robert Jr. along with Georgia businessman and Southern Pan Services founder Brack Maggard and was founded...

 in the NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...

 Nationwide Series. In addition, he works as an on-air personality for SPEED on NASCAR RaceDay
NASCAR RaceDay
NASCAR RaceDay is a pre-race show on Speed Channel. Hosted by John M. Roberts, the show features driver–analysts Kenny Wallace and Kyle Petty, as well as pit reporter Wendy Venturini, who provide news from the track right before each weekend's race. Hermie Sadler came on board in 2008...

 and NASCAR Victory Lane
NASCAR Victory Lane
NASCAR Victory Lane is a post-race show on Speed Channel that recaps every Sprint Cup event. Hosted by John Roberts, NASCAR Victory Lane also features driver/analysts Kenny Wallace and Kyle Petty as well as reporter Bob Dillner. The show analyzes the day's event with highlights, post-race...

.

Early life

Kenny Wallace is the youngest of three brothers born to Russ and Judy Wallace. Russ was a prolific race winner himself, which made him unpopular with fans. Kenny earned his nickname, "Herman," early in life when Lake Hill Speedway promoter Bob Miller made note of Kenny's boisterous behavior when taking up for his father, likening him to the mischievous cartoon character Herman the German
Herman the German
The Hermann Heights Monument is a statue erected in New Ulm, Minnesota. The statue depicts Hermann the Cheruscan, also known by the Latin name Arminius, but locals refer to the statue as Hermann the German. The only National Register of Historic Places property of its kind in Minnesota, the...

. He went to Fox High School in Arnold, MO.

Kenny began his racing career by working as a mechanic on his father's race cars and brother's team. He entered his first race, the Illinois Street Stock State Championship, in 1982, winning the event. This victory sparked Kenny's driving career, and he entered the American Speed Association
American Speed Association
The American Speed Association is a sanctioning body of motorsports in the United States formed in 1968. The Association was based in Pendleton, Indiana and currently is headquarters in Daytona Beach, Florida. ASA was most famous for a national touring series which began in 1973 but was...

 in 1986, achieving Rookie of the Year honors in the series.

Early Busch career

In September 1988, Dale Earnhardt
Dale Earnhardt
Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Sr. was an American race car driver, best known for his involvement in stock car racing for NASCAR...

 gave Wallace the seat for his first-ever NASCAR start, in which he finished eleventh in the Busch Series race at Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway
Martinsville Speedway is an International Speedway Corporation-owned NASCAR stock car racing track located in Henry County, near Ridgeway, Virginia, just to the south of Martinsville. At in length, it is the shortest track in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The track was also one of the first paved...

, driving the #8 GM Goodwrench
GM Goodwrench
GM Goodwrench is an auto repair service for General Motors in Canada, and previously, the United States. In 2011, GM replaced Goodwrench in the US with separate Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC Certified Service brands.-Background:...

 Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...

. The following year, he raced the full Busch Series
Busch Series
The NASCAR Nationwide Series is a stock car racing series owned and operated by the National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing. It is promoted as NASCAR's "minor league" circuit, and is a proving ground for drivers who wish to step up to the organization's "big leagues"; the Sprint Cup circuit...

 schedule in a car owned by brother Rusty, sponsored by Cox Treated Lumber earning the 1989 Rookie of the Year award and finishing sixth in driver point standings. In 1990
1990 in NASCAR
The 1990 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Sunday February 11 and ended on Sunday November 18. Because of a highly controversial penalty to Mark Martin early in the season, Dale Earnhardt with Richard Childress Racing was crowned the Winston Cup champion for the fourth time, edging out Martin by 21...

, he made his Winston Cup debut at North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro Speedway was a short track that held races in NASCAR's top three series from NASCAR's inception in 1949 until its closure in 1996...

 in the #36 Pontiac for Randy Cox, finishing 26th after a late-race crash. He finished seventh in the Busch Series. The following season, he won his first two career races and finished a career-best second in the Busch points, and subbed for Kyle Petty
Kyle Petty
Kyle Eugene Petty is a former American NASCAR driver and is currently a co-host for NASCAR RaceDay and panel member for NASCAR Smarts which are both on SPEED. He also commentates for TNT in the summer. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of the late Adam...

 in two races in the Cup series. At the Pyroil 500, he competed against his brothers Mike and Rusty, marking the first time since Bob
Bob Flock
Robert Newman Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama, USA was an early NASCAR driver. He qualified on the pole position for NASCAR's first Strictly Stock race.-Flock family:...

, Fonty
Fonty Flock
Truman Fontello "Fonty" Flock of Fort Payne, Alabama was an early NASCAR driver.-Flock family:He was the brother of NASCAR pioneers Tim Flock and Bob Flock, and the second female NASCAR driver Ethel Mobley...

, and Tim Flock
Tim Flock
Julius Timothy Flock was one of NASCAR's early pioneers, and a two time series champion. He was a brother to NASCAR's second female driver Ethel Mobley and NASCAR pioneers Bob Flock and Fonty Flock.- NASCAR career :...

 raced that three brothers competed in the same race. In 1992
1992 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 1992 NASCAR Busch Series Season began February 15 and ended November 8. Joe Nemechek of NEMCO Motorsports won the championship.See also: 1992 in NASCAR- Goody's 300 :The Goody's 300 was held February 15 at Daytona International Speedway...

, Dirt Devil
Dirt Devil
Dirt Devil is a brand name of household vacuum cleaners and floor care. There are two main units: Power for large houses, and RV unit for smaller houses or apartments, as well as a number of other floor care products including hand-held vacuum cleaners and carpet shampooing machines.-Company...

 became his sponsor and he won his third Busch race of his career, but several mechanical problems forced him down to sixth in points.

1993–2000

In 1993
1993 in NASCAR
The 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Season began on February 7 and ended on November 14. Dale Earnhardt of Richard Childress Racing won the title, the sixth of his career....

, Wallace moved up to the Winston Cup Series full-time, driving the #40 Dirt Devil Pontiac Grand Prix
Pontiac Grand Prix
Picking up where the Pontiac Ventura model left off, the Grand Prix first appeared in the Pontiac line for 1962. It was essentially a standard Pontiac Catalina coupe with minimal outside chrome trim and a sportier interior...

 for SABCO Racing. The team got a considerable amount of television time as the team was featured on the TV Show What Would You Do?
What Would You Do?
What Would You Do? is a 30-minute television show hosted by Marc Summers shown on Nickelodeon from 1991 to 1993. Robin Marrella acted as the on-camera stagehand for the show's first season. Both Summers and Marrella performed their respective duties on Double Dare, also on Nickelodeon...

. He had three top-tens and a twenty-third place points finish, but lost his ride at the end of the season. He returned to the Busch Series to drive the #8 TIC Financial Systems Ford for FILMAR Racing
FILMAR Racing
FILMAR Racing is a former NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series team. It was owned by Fil Martocci and crew chief Gil Martin. The team was sold in 1999 to the Pinnacle Motorsports Group and then to Davis & Weight Motorsports.- Beginnings :...

. He picked up three wins and finished fourth in points. Towards the end of the season, he was hired by Robert Yates Racing to replace the injured Ernie Irvan
Ernie Irvan
Virgil Earnest Irvan, more commonly known as Ernie Irvan is a former race driver in NASCAR. He is best remembered for his comeback after a serious head injury at Michigan International Speedway which earned him numerous awards and respect from his fellow drivers...

 in the Cup series. In twelve races, he finished in the top-ten three times. In 1995, Wallace and FILMAR split time between the Cup and Busch Series. Wallace had one win with the Red Dog
Red Dog
Red dog, also known as red dog poker or yablon, is a game of chance played with cards. It is a variation of acey-deucey or in-between. While found in some land casinos, its popularity has declined, although it is featured at many casinos online...

 Ford in the Busch Series, and made eleven starts in the Cup Series in the #81 car.

Wallace and FILMAR began racing in Cup full-time 1996
1996 in NASCAR
The 1996 NASCAR Winston Cup Series started on February 18, 1996 and ended on November 10, 1996 with Terry Labonte pulling off a massive upset and winning his second championship.-1996 Team Chart:-Busch Clash:...

 with funding from Square D
Square D
Square D is an American manufacturer of equipment used to control and distribute electric power headquartered in Palatine, Illinois.Square D was founded in 1903 in Detroit, Michigan by Bryson Dexter Horton who is credited with the invention of the safety switch which encased high voltage switches...

. They had two top-ten finishes and a twenty-eighth place points finish. The following season, he won two poles, at Bristol
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...

 and Martinsville respectively, but fell five spots in the standings. Despite seven top-tens in 1998
1998 in NASCAR
See Also: 1998 in NASCAR Busch Series-1998 Team Chart:-Bud Shootout Qualifier:The Bud Shootout Qualifier, a race for the fastest second round qualifier, from each race from the previous season, was run on February 8 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sterling Marlin drew the pole...

, Wallace and Square D left FILMAR to drive Andy Petree Racing
Andy Petree Racing
Andy Petree Racing is a former NASCAR team. Its ownership changed hands several times over the years, with three different owners from its beginning to its close in 2004. The team was based out of North Carolina and was always a steady competitor for the win despite never winning a championship.-...

's new #55 entry. Wallace finished in the top-ten five times and had a career-best twenty-second place finish in points. After only one top-ten in 2000
2000 in NASCAR
The 2000 NASCAR Winston Cup Season began on Sunday February 13 and ended on Sunday November 20. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Labonte was crowned champion at season's end. The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship was won by Ford when they captured 14 wins and 234 points to better Pontiac's 11 wins...

 and a 26th place finish in the points, he departed the team. The sole top-ten came in his second place finish to Dale Earnhardt, in the then Winston 500 (now UAW Ford 500
UAW Ford 500
The Good Sam Club 500 is a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series stock car race held at Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Alabama. The AMP Energy 500 is also one of four races currently run with restrictor plates, the others being the Aaron's 499, the Coke Zero 400, and the Daytona 500. Through 1996, the...

) which was Earnhardt's final victory. Wallace pushed Earnhardt to the front in four laps to the lead.

From 2001

In 2001
2001 in NASCAR
The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup season began on February 11 at the Daytona International Speedway and ended on November 23 at the New Hampshire International Speedway. Jeff Gordon of Hendrick Motorsports was crowned series champion for the fourth time in seven years. The season was marked by tragedy,...

, Wallace signed with the unsponsored Eel River Racing
Eel River Racing
Eel River Racing was a NASCAR Winston Cup team that operated from 1981 to 2001. The team's history of drivers include Geoff Bodine, Michael Waltrip, Johnny Benson, Kenny Wallace, Jeff Fuller, Rick Mast, and Mike Bliss, among others. The team mainly ran Pontiac Grand Prixs, although they did run...

 team, and also was hired to drive the #48 Goulds Pumps
Goulds Pumps
Goulds Pumps, Inc. is a United States manufacturer of industrial pumps based in Seneca Falls, New York. It was founded by Seabury Gould in the 1840s. The company is now owned by ITT Industries.-Downs, Mynderse & Company:...

 Chevy in the Busch Series full-time for Innovative Motorsports
Innovative Motorsports
Innovative Motorsports is a former NASCAR team. It was owned by George DeBidart and began racing in the Busch North Series in the mid-90's, before moving to the Busch Series in 1998.- Winston Cup :Innovative ran four Cup races during its tenure...

. After several DNQ's, Wallace resigned from the team to concentrate on his Busch ride. He won his first race in seven years at North Carolina Speedway
North Carolina Speedway
Rockingham Speedway, formerly North Carolina Motor Speedway and later North Carolina Speedway is a racetrack located near Rockingham, North Carolina...

 and finished tenth in points. He also filled in for Steve Park
Steve Park (NASCAR)
Stephen Park is a professional race car driver. Park is currently racing in the #35 Waste Management Recycle America Monte Carlo in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East....

 in the Cup Series, winning one pole and nailing down two top-tens, including a second-place finish at Rockingham Speedway, tying a career best. He did not win in 2002
2002 in NASCAR
The 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday, February 10, and ended on Sunday, November 17. Tony Stewart with Joe Gibbs Racing was crowned the Winston Cup champion. The NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship was captured by Ford after winning 14 events, and gaining 245 points over second place...

, but moved up to seventh in the Busch series standings in the #48 Chevrolet now sponsored by Stacker 2. He replaced a suspended Kevin Harvick at Martinsville and was hired late in the season by Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing
Bill Davis Racing was a racing team that participated in all three of NASCAR's top divisions until 2009.The team had run Toyota-branded stock cars and trucks in both the Camping World Truck Series and Sprint Cup Series since 2007. Dodge, Ford, and Pontiac previously backed the team...

 to replace Hut Stricklin
Hut Stricklin
Waymond Lane "Hut" Stricklin is a former NASCAR race car driver. He was born on June 24, 1961, in Calera, Alabama. He married Pam Allison, the daughter of NASCAR legend Donnie Allison after they were introduced by her cousin Davey. Hut was the last member of the Alabama Gang.In 1986, Stricklin won...

 in the #23 Hills Brothers Coffee Dodge, and was hired to drive the car full-time in 2003
2003 in NASCAR
The 2003 NASCAR Winston Cup began on Saturday February 8 and ended on Sunday November 16. Matt Kenseth with Roush Racing driving a Ford was crowned the Winston Cup champion, despite winning only one race all year. Chevrolet took home the NASCAR Manufacturers' Championship after capturing 19 wins...

, bringing his Stacker 2 sponsorship with him and continuing to drive in the Busch Series for Davis. After one top-ten finish, Wallace and the team moved down to the Busch Series in 2004
2004 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2004 NASCAR Busch Series Season began on February 14 and ended on November 20. Martin Truex, Jr. of Chance 2 Motorsports won the championship.See Also: 2004 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series, 2004 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series-2004 Team chart:...

, garnering ten top-ten finishes. He also drove in the Cup Series five times for Michael Waltrip Racing.

In 2005
2005 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 2005 season of the NASCAR Busch Series began with the Hershey's Take 5 300 at Daytona International Speedway and concluded with the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Martin Truex Jr...

, Davis Racing closed its Busch team, allowing Wallace and sponsor Stacker 2 to join ppc Racing
Ppc Racing
ppc Racing was a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina. The team was owned by Greg Pollex. ppc Racing came about from a merger of Pollex's Busch Series team with a car owned by Steve DeSouza and Ted Campbell in 1999. The team shut down in 2007 due to a lack of funding...

's #22 Ford, earning five top-fives and eleven top-tens. During that season Wallace's team lost sponsorship when Stacker 2 backed out of NASCAR, and drove for the rest of his time with ppc Racing driving the #22 AutoZone
AutoZone
AutoZone is a retailer and distributor of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories. based in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:Originally a division of Memphis-based wholesale grocer Malone & Hyde, the company went under the name Auto Shack...

 Ford. He began driving for Furniture Row Racing in the Cup Series that season, and ran seventeen races with them in 2006. After four top-tens in 2006
2006 in NASCAR Busch Series
The 25th season of the NASCAR Busch Series opened February 18, 2006, at Daytona International Speedway and concluded November 18, 2006, at Homestead-Miami Speedway...

, Furniture Row began racing full-time in Cup, so Wallace to left ppc.

Despite getting voted into the All-Star Race at Charlotte, Wallace was unable to keep the #78 in the top-35 in owner's points, and left the team in August. On August 22, 2007 he filled in for Kyle Petty
Kyle Petty
Kyle Eugene Petty is a former American NASCAR driver and is currently a co-host for NASCAR RaceDay and panel member for NASCAR Smarts which are both on SPEED. He also commentates for TNT in the summer. He is the son of racer Richard Petty, grandson of racer Lee Petty, and father of the late Adam...

 in the 45 Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational diversified financial services company with operations around the world. Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the U.S. by assets and the largest bank by market capitalization. Wells Fargo is the second largest bank in deposits, home...

 Dodge at Bristol. Shortly after that drove as a sub for the injured Ricky Rudd
Ricky Rudd
Ricky Rudd is a former American NASCAR driver. He is the uncle of actor Skeet Ulrich and Nationwide Series driver Jason Rudd. Rudd is known as the "Iron Man" of NASCAR; holding the record for most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, Rudd had made 788...

 in the #88 Snickers
Snickers
Snickers is a brand name chocolate bar made by Mars, Incorporated. It consists of peanut nougat topped with roasted peanuts and caramel, enrobed in milk chocolate. Snickers has annual global sales of $2 billion....

 Ford Fusion until Rudd returned.

Wallace attempted to qualify for the 2008 Daytona 500
2008 Daytona 500
The 2008 Daytona 500 was the 50th annual running of "The Great American Race", the Daytona 500. The race took place on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The race was the 50th to be run since the first in 1959, won by Lee Petty. To commemorate...

 in a second car for Furniture Row Racing
Furniture Row Racing
Furniture Row Racing is a NASCAR team based in Colorado and fields the #78 Chevrolet Impala for Regan Smith. The team is owned and sponsored by the U.S. furniture store chain Furniture Row and is the only NASCAR team headquartered in Colorado....

, the #87 Denver Mattress Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...

. Wallace finished eighth in the first Duel at Daytona, making the 50th Daytona 500. Wallace was black flagged in the Daytona 500 for failure to maintain the NASCAR-required speed and he finished last. Wallace drove for Armando Fitz early in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series season before switching to the #28 for Jay Robinson. Between the 2008, 2009, and 2010 seasons, Wallace finished in the top-ten three times, He left Jay Robinson and Joined RAB racing, driving without a paycheck in exchange for getting to drive competitive equipment. Wallace has recorded 11 top-ten finishes in 2011, with a best finish of fifth at Richmond. In October, he announced that he will return to the team in 2012, along with all of his sponsors. He also hinted that he might retire from racing after the 2012 season.

Personal life

Kenny Wallace is a member of a large racing family. Kenny's father, Russ, was a prolific winner on Midwestern
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....

 short tracks
Short track motor racing
In North American auto racing, particularly with regard to NASCAR, a short track is a racetrack of less than one mile in length. Short track racing, often associated with fairgrounds and similar venues, is where stock car racing first got off the back roads and into organized and regulated...

 in the 1960s and 1970s. Kenny and his older brothers, Rusty
Rusty Wallace
Russell William Wallace, Jr. is a past NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, currently a broadcaster on ESPN, car owner in the Nationwide Series, and a co-host of NASCAR Angels.-Early racing career:...

 and Mike
Mike Wallace (NASCAR)
Mike Wallace is a NASCAR race car driver born in Fenton, Missouri. He currently drives the #01 Chevrolet for JD Motorsports in the Nationwide Series. He is a younger brother to Rusty Wallace, older brother to Kenny Wallace, and uncle to Steve Wallace...

, followed in their father's footsteps. Rusty is the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion and winner of 55 Cup Series races. Mike is a winner of four Nationwide Series and four Camping World Truck Series races. Rusty's son, Steve, is a current Nationwide Series driver, and Mike's daughter, Chrissy
Chrissy Wallace
Chrissy Wallace is a NASCAR driver. She is the daughter of NASCAR driver Mike Wallace, who himself is a 3 time winner at Daytona International Raceway, and middle brother of the famous Wallace triumvirate of ABC/ESPN racing analyst and former Winston Cup champion Rusty Wallace and former NASCAR...

, has participated in multiple Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series races.

Kenny is married to Kim and has three daughters, Brooke, Brandy, and Brittany. Kenny and his family reside in Concord
Concord, North Carolina
Concord is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. According to Census 2010, the city has a current population of 79,066. It is the largest city in Cabarrus County and is the county seat. In terms of population, the city of Concord is the second largest city in the Charlotte Metropolitan Area...

, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

.

External links

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