HUNTERSVILLE, NC (December 20, 2006) - The Wallace brothers racing background
came straight from their bloodlines. Growing up in Arnold, Missouri just outside of St.
Louis, Rusty, Mike, and Kenny Wallace watched their father, Russ, one of the Midwest's
most successful short track drivers. The Wallace brothers followed in their father's
racing footsteps, and made some of their own, eventually growing up to compete
against each other in the highest levels of NASCAR racing.
Though all of the Wallace brothers now reside in North Carolina, the home of stock car
racing, they will always call Arnold, Missouri their hometown. On Thursday, December
21, the City of Arnold Tourism Board will be holding a ceremony at Fox High School to
unveil the Wallace Family billboard. The billboard, located on the grounds of Fox High
School where all three Wallace brothers graduated from high school, will be visible to all
motorists driving through Arnold on Interstate 55 and will proclaim Arnold, Missouri the
hometown of the Wallace brothers.
Rusty Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, paved the way for his
younger brothers in NASCAR Racing. Rusty retired from NASCAR competition at the
end of 2005 with one of the most accomplished resumes in American auto racing,
including 55 NASCAR Premiere Series victories and 36 pole positions.
"It's been a long time since I've lived in Arnold, but that's where we built our first race
cars," Rusty Wallace explained. "I can remember loading up my first race car to go to
Lakehill Speedway in Valley Park, Missouri and winning the very first race I ever
entered. It sure is nice to come home and have the people of Arnold, and especially Fox
High School, honor us."
The middle Wallace brother, Mike Wallace, has four NASCAR Busch Series victories
and four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victories in his career. Mike also has 184
Nextel Cup Series starts, resulting in two top-fives and thirteen top-ten finishes.
##more##
"We feel incredibly honored that our hometown, Arnold, Missouri is going to honor us,"
Mike Wallace said. "My brothers and I went all the way through the Fox School District
and when we were in school racing wasn't cool. I specifically remember one of the vice
principals telling us that if we didn't stop messing with race cars we wouldn't even make
anything of ourselves, so it's nice that they are recognizing our accomplishments now
and that they are proud of us. We are truly an example that you should live your dreams
to the fullest."
The youngest and loudest Wallace brother, Kenny Wallace, has nine NASCAR Busch
Series wins, ten Busch poles, and two Most Popular Driver awards to his credit. Kenny
also has over 300 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series starts, including three poles, six top-five
finishes, and twenty-seven top-ten finishes.
"It's hard for me to believe that everything has come full circle," Kenny Wallace said.
"Traveling through all of the small towns across the country while I'm racing, I have
always seen the signs for famous people's hometown. Now it's exciting to know that
when people driving into Arnold, Missouri that they will know that it is our hometown. I'm
really excited to go back and see all of my high school friends and my family. I want to
thank our hometown for honoring us; and I really want to thank Fox High School for
naming me the 1981 Class Clown… look how far I've come."
Over the years, the Wallace Family has become well respected by NASCAR owners,
drivers, sponsors and fans for their many racing achievements, and now their
hometown has a chance to recognize them for all of their accomplishments.
WHAT: Wallace Family Racing Day - Ceremony & Billboard Unveiling
WHO: Rusty, Mike, & Kenny Wallace, along with members of their family, including their
parents, Russ & Judy Wallace
WHEN: Thursday, December 21, 2006
WHERE: Fox High School - Arnold, Missouri
TIME: 12:45 PM - Ceremony in the gym; 1:15 PM Unveiling of the billboard
NOTE: The billboard unveiling outside of Fox High School will be open to the public.
came straight from their bloodlines. Growing up in Arnold, Missouri just outside of St.
Louis, Rusty, Mike, and Kenny Wallace watched their father, Russ, one of the Midwest's
most successful short track drivers. The Wallace brothers followed in their father's
racing footsteps, and made some of their own, eventually growing up to compete
against each other in the highest levels of NASCAR racing.
Though all of the Wallace brothers now reside in North Carolina, the home of stock car
racing, they will always call Arnold, Missouri their hometown. On Thursday, December
21, the City of Arnold Tourism Board will be holding a ceremony at Fox High School to
unveil the Wallace Family billboard. The billboard, located on the grounds of Fox High
School where all three Wallace brothers graduated from high school, will be visible to all
motorists driving through Arnold on Interstate 55 and will proclaim Arnold, Missouri the
hometown of the Wallace brothers.
Rusty Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion, paved the way for his
younger brothers in NASCAR Racing. Rusty retired from NASCAR competition at the
end of 2005 with one of the most accomplished resumes in American auto racing,
including 55 NASCAR Premiere Series victories and 36 pole positions.
"It's been a long time since I've lived in Arnold, but that's where we built our first race
cars," Rusty Wallace explained. "I can remember loading up my first race car to go to
Lakehill Speedway in Valley Park, Missouri and winning the very first race I ever
entered. It sure is nice to come home and have the people of Arnold, and especially Fox
High School, honor us."
The middle Wallace brother, Mike Wallace, has four NASCAR Busch Series victories
and four NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victories in his career. Mike also has 184
Nextel Cup Series starts, resulting in two top-fives and thirteen top-ten finishes.
##more##
"We feel incredibly honored that our hometown, Arnold, Missouri is going to honor us,"
Mike Wallace said. "My brothers and I went all the way through the Fox School District
and when we were in school racing wasn't cool. I specifically remember one of the vice
principals telling us that if we didn't stop messing with race cars we wouldn't even make
anything of ourselves, so it's nice that they are recognizing our accomplishments now
and that they are proud of us. We are truly an example that you should live your dreams
to the fullest."
The youngest and loudest Wallace brother, Kenny Wallace, has nine NASCAR Busch
Series wins, ten Busch poles, and two Most Popular Driver awards to his credit. Kenny
also has over 300 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series starts, including three poles, six top-five
finishes, and twenty-seven top-ten finishes.
"It's hard for me to believe that everything has come full circle," Kenny Wallace said.
"Traveling through all of the small towns across the country while I'm racing, I have
always seen the signs for famous people's hometown. Now it's exciting to know that
when people driving into Arnold, Missouri that they will know that it is our hometown. I'm
really excited to go back and see all of my high school friends and my family. I want to
thank our hometown for honoring us; and I really want to thank Fox High School for
naming me the 1981 Class Clown… look how far I've come."
Over the years, the Wallace Family has become well respected by NASCAR owners,
drivers, sponsors and fans for their many racing achievements, and now their
hometown has a chance to recognize them for all of their accomplishments.
WHAT: Wallace Family Racing Day - Ceremony & Billboard Unveiling
WHO: Rusty, Mike, & Kenny Wallace, along with members of their family, including their
parents, Russ & Judy Wallace
WHEN: Thursday, December 21, 2006
WHERE: Fox High School - Arnold, Missouri
TIME: 12:45 PM - Ceremony in the gym; 1:15 PM Unveiling of the billboard
NOTE: The billboard unveiling outside of Fox High School will be open to the public.
