News Article

101 ESPN Radio to Feature Rusty Wallace as July's Hometown Hero

July 6, 2010

NASCAR’s Rusty Wallace will be the featured profile on the July installment of 101 ESPN’s “Hometown Heroes” original programming series.

Rusty Wallace, seen here with fellow ASA alum Mark Martin, won the 1983 title in that series and went on to earn the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title in 1989.

“Hometown Heroes” is 101 ESPN’s monthly radio program featuring interviews with local homegrown athletes and sports personalities, along with sound bites from the people who have been around each featured guest during the course of their careers.

The July 2010 installment will air Thursday night July 8, 2010 at 6pm, and will be hosted by Brian Stull. This edition will feature an hour-long review of Rusty Wallace’s St. Louis beginnings and professional career, along with commentary from the former NASCAR driver himself.

Rusty Wallace, born in Fenton, Missouri in 1956, is a part of the Wallace racing family. Brothers Kenny and Mike are both NASCAR drivers, as well as Rusty’s son Steven.

Prior to joining the NASCAR circuit, Wallace made a name for himself in the late 1970’s racing around the Midwest winning a pair of local track championships. Rusty won more than 200 short track races. In 1979 he won the United States Auto Club (USAC) Stock Car Rookie of the Year honors finishing third in points behind A.J. Foyt and Bay Darnell. In 1983 he won the American Speed Association (ASA) Championship, competing against future NASCAR stars Mark Martin, Alan Kulwicki and Dick Trickle.

Wallace finished second in his first NASCAR race, the Atlanta 500, in 1980. Once he started competing full-time on the NASCAR circuit in 1984, Wallace quickly showed his driving prowess by winning the NASCAR Rookie of the Year honors that year. Rusty’s first NASCAR win came at the Bristol Motor Speedway on April 6, 1986, which he followed later that year with his championship at Martinsville on September 21. All told, Rusty had 55 NASCAR Cup wins, which is tied for 8th on NASCAR's all-time wins list. Wallace has the most short track wins in NASCAR history with 34. He is considered among the best short track drivers in NASCAR history.

Retired from the NASCAR circuit since 2005, Rusty Wallace is now a racing broadcaster on ESPN, as well as a co-host of the syndicated TV show NASCAR Angels. Wallace also appeared in the 1990 film Days of Thunder. He also owns and operates Rusty Wallace Racing.

Wallace will be at Gateway International Raceway July 17 with ESPN to provide analysis for the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250. Tickets are still available by calling 866-35-SPEED.