All Wallace all the time redux

The news that Kenny Wallace will be driving the Robert Yates Racing #88 at Richmond International Raceway Saturday night is good.  Ricky Rudd's shoulder injury is a shame but not unfortunate.  For Herman, at least.  The Herminator is one of the few remaining, real personalities in the increasingly corporate world of NASCAR. 

At Indy for the Brickyard pre-race activities, Wallace seemed to be everywhere.  And everywhere his reception by fans was superstar-like.  Whether on the Speed stage for a Trackside appearance, on the music stage to intro a concert or at an appearance to race remote control cars against Richard Childress, Kenny's fans were loud and boisterous.  Just like him.  I hope he does well with the Yates opportunity.

Steve and I managed to catch up with Rusty Wallace in the garages at MIS a couple weeks back.  He had just finished interviewing Jeff Green for an ESPN segment.  He was mobbed by fans.  He is mobbed by fans always.  We grabbed an opportunity to ask him if he would be willing to be a guest ON PIT ROW.  You had to be there to appreciate this.  He was just like you see him on the air.  Smiling, appologizing for not having his schedule with him and writing down his assistant's cell number so that we could call and schedule with her.  Then he posed with us for  the picture you see here. 

Rusty was a guest on our show three years ago. He was terrific.  Around Toledo Speedway are many stories of his good nature and down-to-earth personality.  I think about this when watching him doing the color commentary on race day.  His in-booth performance is getting better each race.  You can tell he loves the sport.  It must have been tough covering his son Steve, driving a Rusty Wallace Racing car, when the young man struggled. 

Finally while we're on this world of Wallace - hey Geico.  How about a new Warren - or is it Lauren - Wallace commercial? 

Picture credit: Kenny and Rust : Beth Anne Heisler - ON PIT ROW

Comments

[Vroom!]

Great foto of you with Rusty!

[4ever3]

Here is a link (I don't know how to make it smaller, sorry - someone has to show me how to use html code) of my Kenny Wallace experience. He is an awesome person.

http://4ever3canadianeh.blogspot.com/search?q=Aug.+19th+to+be+specific

[Charlie]

Bob, nice to know I'm not the only html challenged blogger around here. That's a good story about Kenny. Most of the NASCAR people that we have met have been very gracious. It makes it fun.

Thanks for the that George.