Rusty Comes Home To Gateway!!!!
(Legendary NASCAR Driver and St. Louis Native To Run In Busch Race For The First Time Ever)
Madison, IL - Gateway International Raceway announced today that St.
Louis native and Nextel Cup Superstar Rusty Wallace would be driving in
their annual NASCAR Busch Series event on Saturday night, July 30, 2005.
Rusty will join brothers Kenny and Mike as the track will salute the First
Family of racing in St. Louis and will dedicate the name of the event to the
"Wallace Family Tribute 250". It marks the first time ever that Rusty will
drive in a major NASCAR event in his hometown and is part of the "Rusty's
Last Call" farewell tour.
1989 Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace has been synonymous with
success in racing for over 20 years in NASCAR's highest level of Nextel Cup.
He ranks ninth all-time with 55 career wins and fifth all-time in career
earnings with nearly $44-million. Wallace added number 55 when he took the
checkered flag at Martinsville on April 19, 2004. In addition, Wallace has 36
career pole positions, 22 of which have come on superspeedways. He holds
the longest current active streak in NASCAR with 21 straight seasons of
finishing in the Top-20 in points. 16 of his last 19 seasons he has finished in
the Top-10.
For his farewell tour Rusty decided to return home and run his first race ever
at Gateway International Raceway.
#more#
"This is going to be a monumental event and I couldn't think of a better place
to do it," stated Rusty Wallace. "I haven't driven in the St. Louis area since
the late 1970's. It's going to be an exciting homecoming for me and I know
many of my friends will be there."
Success was almost immediate for Rusty as he followed in the footsteps of his
father Russ Wallace. Russ was one of the most successful short track drivers
in the Midwest winning over 500 races and earning the nickname "The Old
Man of the Mountain". It would show in the bloodlines of the Wallace family
as Rusty won in his first-ever race as a 16-year-old at Lake Hills Speedway in
1973 in Valley Park, Missouri, to begin an illustrious career in racing.
When Rusty returns to Gateway he will be running against some familiar
faces in his younger brothers Mike and Kenny. It will be the first time ever
that all three Wallace Brothers will be running against each other in a major
NASCAR event in their hometown. Their parents, Russ and Judy Wallace,
will also be present and a part of the pre-race ceremonies which will include
tributes and dedications.
"This is going to be pretty incredible," stated Kenny Wallace. "Rusty's career
is coming full circle and at the same time we have a chance to celebrate it in
our home town of St. Louis. It is always extra special when you can run
against your brothers, but this gives us a chance to say thank you to St. Louis
for coming out to Gateway to support us. It would be a dream for me if
Rusty, Mike and I were fighting it out on the last few laps for the win."
Kenny Wallace completed the 2004 race season with his eighth career Top-10
finish in the Busch Series Championship. He notched Top-10 finishes in 10
races this season, highlighted by a sixth place finish at the Aaron's 312 at
Talladega. Wallace has finished as high as seventh most recently in the Busch
Series standings in 2002, and a career-best second overall in 1991 while
running for Rusty's Busch Series team.
#more#
Mike Wallace is the middle brother of the Wallace Family racers and has won
on almost every kind of track you can drive on. He has over 300 short track
wins and has Busch Series wins at IRP, Dover, Martinsville and Milwaukee.
He added to that list in 2004 when he took the checkered flag in the Winn-
Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 2.
Mike Wallace commented on running at Gateway for the special occasion.
"I would just like to thank Gateway for doing this and honoring our family,"
stated Wallace. "I know this is a big tribute year for my brother Rusty and I
think it is very unique in the sense that this is probably the last time all three
of us will get a chance to race together."
The "Wallace Family Tribute 250" will highlight Gateway's "Year of The
Tributes" in 2005. Oval season tickets are on sale now and start at just $125.
There will be plenty of activities added including concerts, post-race
fireworks and more to be announced. To order your tickets call 1-866-35-
SPEED, or log onto www.gatewayraceway.com. Gateway International
Raceway and the "Wallace Family Tribute 250", FEEL THE RUSH!
-30-
Rusty Wallace
Birthdate: Aug. 14, 1956
Hometown: St. Louis, MO.
Marital Status: Married (Patti)
Children: Greg (1/24/80), Katie (11/13/84), Stephen (8/18/87)
HIGHLIGHTS
1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion
Ranks ninth on NASCAR's all-time win list (55)
Ranks fifth in all-time money won (nearly $44-million)
Has won 36 career Pole Positions
1988 & 1993 NMPA Driver of the Year
194 career Top-5's, and 332 career Top-10's
1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year
1991 International Race of Champions (IROC) champion
First Top-5 finish came in the Atlanta 500 on March 16, 1980
Won first Winston Cup Race at Bristol on April 6, 1986
Notched his first career pole position at Michigan
International Speedway on June 26, 1987
Holds the longest current active streak in NASCAR with 21
straight seasons of finishing in the Top-20 in points.
Kenny Wallace
Birthdate: Aug. 23, 1963
Hometown: St. Louis, MO.
Marital status: Kim
Children: Brooke, Brandy, Brittany
HIGHLIGHTS
Finished ninth overall in the 2004 Busch Series standings;
Eighth career Top-10 finish in the series
In the Nextel Cup Series he has three career pole positions, six
Top-5 finishes and 27 Top-10 finishes
In the Busch Series he has nine career wins, 10 career pole positions,
58 Top-5 finishes and 142 total Top-10 finishes.
Finished second in 1991 NASCAR Busch Series standings
Finished in top-10 of NBS standings seven times
Finished second in Dale Earnhardt's last win, October 2000 at
Talladega
Has run in over 600 Nextel Cup and Busch Series races over his
15-year professional driving career
Mike Wallace
Birthdate: March 10, 1959
Hometown: St. Louis, MO.
Marital status: Carla
Children: Lindsey, Chrissy and Matt
HIGHLIGHTS
Has eight career Top-10's and a career high finish of 2nd at Phoenix
in Nextel Cup competition
Has NASCAR Busch Series career victories at IRP, Daytona,
Dover, Martinsville Milwaukee
Finished a career-best 12th in 1993 NASCAR Busch Series
championship
Finished sixth in his 1990 NASCAR Busch Series debut at
Martinsville
Two-time top-10 finisher in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series championship (career wins at Loudon, Homestead,
Phoenix, Daytona and Pikes Peak)
Has four career ARCA Series wins (Daytona, Atlanta, Pocono,
and Talladega)
Has over 300 career short track wins
(Legendary NASCAR Driver and St. Louis Native To Run In Busch Race For The First Time Ever)
Madison, IL - Gateway International Raceway announced today that St.
Louis native and Nextel Cup Superstar Rusty Wallace would be driving in
their annual NASCAR Busch Series event on Saturday night, July 30, 2005.
Rusty will join brothers Kenny and Mike as the track will salute the First
Family of racing in St. Louis and will dedicate the name of the event to the
"Wallace Family Tribute 250". It marks the first time ever that Rusty will
drive in a major NASCAR event in his hometown and is part of the "Rusty's
Last Call" farewell tour.
1989 Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace has been synonymous with
success in racing for over 20 years in NASCAR's highest level of Nextel Cup.
He ranks ninth all-time with 55 career wins and fifth all-time in career
earnings with nearly $44-million. Wallace added number 55 when he took the
checkered flag at Martinsville on April 19, 2004. In addition, Wallace has 36
career pole positions, 22 of which have come on superspeedways. He holds
the longest current active streak in NASCAR with 21 straight seasons of
finishing in the Top-20 in points. 16 of his last 19 seasons he has finished in
the Top-10.
For his farewell tour Rusty decided to return home and run his first race ever
at Gateway International Raceway.
#more#
"This is going to be a monumental event and I couldn't think of a better place
to do it," stated Rusty Wallace. "I haven't driven in the St. Louis area since
the late 1970's. It's going to be an exciting homecoming for me and I know
many of my friends will be there."
Success was almost immediate for Rusty as he followed in the footsteps of his
father Russ Wallace. Russ was one of the most successful short track drivers
in the Midwest winning over 500 races and earning the nickname "The Old
Man of the Mountain". It would show in the bloodlines of the Wallace family
as Rusty won in his first-ever race as a 16-year-old at Lake Hills Speedway in
1973 in Valley Park, Missouri, to begin an illustrious career in racing.
When Rusty returns to Gateway he will be running against some familiar
faces in his younger brothers Mike and Kenny. It will be the first time ever
that all three Wallace Brothers will be running against each other in a major
NASCAR event in their hometown. Their parents, Russ and Judy Wallace,
will also be present and a part of the pre-race ceremonies which will include
tributes and dedications.
"This is going to be pretty incredible," stated Kenny Wallace. "Rusty's career
is coming full circle and at the same time we have a chance to celebrate it in
our home town of St. Louis. It is always extra special when you can run
against your brothers, but this gives us a chance to say thank you to St. Louis
for coming out to Gateway to support us. It would be a dream for me if
Rusty, Mike and I were fighting it out on the last few laps for the win."
Kenny Wallace completed the 2004 race season with his eighth career Top-10
finish in the Busch Series Championship. He notched Top-10 finishes in 10
races this season, highlighted by a sixth place finish at the Aaron's 312 at
Talladega. Wallace has finished as high as seventh most recently in the Busch
Series standings in 2002, and a career-best second overall in 1991 while
running for Rusty's Busch Series team.
#more#
Mike Wallace is the middle brother of the Wallace Family racers and has won
on almost every kind of track you can drive on. He has over 300 short track
wins and has Busch Series wins at IRP, Dover, Martinsville and Milwaukee.
He added to that list in 2004 when he took the checkered flag in the Winn-
Dixie 250 at Daytona International Speedway on July 2.
Mike Wallace commented on running at Gateway for the special occasion.
"I would just like to thank Gateway for doing this and honoring our family,"
stated Wallace. "I know this is a big tribute year for my brother Rusty and I
think it is very unique in the sense that this is probably the last time all three
of us will get a chance to race together."
The "Wallace Family Tribute 250" will highlight Gateway's "Year of The
Tributes" in 2005. Oval season tickets are on sale now and start at just $125.
There will be plenty of activities added including concerts, post-race
fireworks and more to be announced. To order your tickets call 1-866-35-
SPEED, or log onto www.gatewayraceway.com. Gateway International
Raceway and the "Wallace Family Tribute 250", FEEL THE RUSH!
-30-
Rusty Wallace
Birthdate: Aug. 14, 1956
Hometown: St. Louis, MO.
Marital Status: Married (Patti)
Children: Greg (1/24/80), Katie (11/13/84), Stephen (8/18/87)
HIGHLIGHTS
1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion
Ranks ninth on NASCAR's all-time win list (55)
Ranks fifth in all-time money won (nearly $44-million)
Has won 36 career Pole Positions
1988 & 1993 NMPA Driver of the Year
194 career Top-5's, and 332 career Top-10's
1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Rookie of the Year
1991 International Race of Champions (IROC) champion
First Top-5 finish came in the Atlanta 500 on March 16, 1980
Won first Winston Cup Race at Bristol on April 6, 1986
Notched his first career pole position at Michigan
International Speedway on June 26, 1987
Holds the longest current active streak in NASCAR with 21
straight seasons of finishing in the Top-20 in points.
Kenny Wallace
Birthdate: Aug. 23, 1963
Hometown: St. Louis, MO.
Marital status: Kim
Children: Brooke, Brandy, Brittany
HIGHLIGHTS
Finished ninth overall in the 2004 Busch Series standings;
Eighth career Top-10 finish in the series
In the Nextel Cup Series he has three career pole positions, six
Top-5 finishes and 27 Top-10 finishes
In the Busch Series he has nine career wins, 10 career pole positions,
58 Top-5 finishes and 142 total Top-10 finishes.
Finished second in 1991 NASCAR Busch Series standings
Finished in top-10 of NBS standings seven times
Finished second in Dale Earnhardt's last win, October 2000 at
Talladega
Has run in over 600 Nextel Cup and Busch Series races over his
15-year professional driving career
Mike Wallace
Birthdate: March 10, 1959
Hometown: St. Louis, MO.
Marital status: Carla
Children: Lindsey, Chrissy and Matt
HIGHLIGHTS
Has eight career Top-10's and a career high finish of 2nd at Phoenix
in Nextel Cup competition
Has NASCAR Busch Series career victories at IRP, Daytona,
Dover, Martinsville Milwaukee
Finished a career-best 12th in 1993 NASCAR Busch Series
championship
Finished sixth in his 1990 NASCAR Busch Series debut at
Martinsville
Two-time top-10 finisher in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series championship (career wins at Loudon, Homestead,
Phoenix, Daytona and Pikes Peak)
Has four career ARCA Series wins (Daytona, Atlanta, Pocono,
and Talladega)
Has over 300 career short track wins
