Growing up in St. Louis, Wallace and the St. Louis Cardinals are a natural match. This year JEG’s puts their name and support on his dirt racing teams. (Courtesy Kenny Wallace Racing)
OT: Who builds the chassis you’re using in the Late Model?
KW: It’s a C.J. Rayburn car. I’ve known.C.J. my whole life – since I was a teenager. My brother Mike ran some of his dirt cars. Two years ago in ’05 I went to Eldora. It was me, Tony Stewart, Danny Lasoski, Dave Blaney – all these cats like are some of the winningest drivers at Eldora. I had a really good car – and I won the inaugural Prelude To The Dream.
I didn’t realize how big a race it was until I got there. I thought we were just going to put on a match race. The whole infield was full! Cars! People!
OT: I’ve had the privilege of covering Eldora. Owner Earl Baltes is all-time. What a promoter. The fans there are rabid, and I mean that in a good way!
KW: They don’t make them like Earl anymore! That’s why Earl was so successful at Eldora. To be a good promoter, you’ve really got to work both sides. Racing is a show. I learned that really the hard way.
When you go to NASCAR with some of your dreams – you’re there for THE dream – you want to race NASCAR. But then you realize that most of the rules are not about you, they’re for the betterment of the whole sport. They’re for the show.
I think Earl was [aware of that] – The King’s Royal, The Dream – they are namea people would have never thought of for a race. Who would have ever thought up that if you won a big race and they put a cap and a hat on you!? [King’s Royal] That’s great showmanship. Earl understands racing from the pit area, but he knows the show too.
His Late Model business relationship with a stalwart drag racing sponsor grew out of his long-time friendship with fellow ASA racer Gary St. Amant. (Courtesy Kenny Wallace Racing)
OT: Are you going to have something like that at the Macon Speedway track you’ve bought into?
KW: We’re going to learn from Earl, we’re gong to learn from a lot of people. A lot of my buddies – my best friend Kenny Schrader – he’s a great racer but he’s a little bit old school. It’s all about racing, racing. I’ve learned so much from him.
But I think old “Herman” [Wallace’s nickname from his mischief-prone youth, and adult ‘alter ego’] would like to bring some of the ‘show’ to it.
I’ve always dreamed of a National Short Track Championship. In other words, dirt racing – Macon is probably the smallest dirt track in the U.S. I’ve got dreams of maybe 3-5 years down the road, having a 2-day preliminary event. You give everybody a chance to make a race. You know, a Short Track Championship event. I don’t know what the gig would be.
OT: Something like the IMCA Nations in Boone, Iowa?
KW: The race only pays $2500 to win. Almost 300 cars show up. Figure that! That’s not about the race, it is about the show. Why would you go [otherwise]?
I think that race proves to people – as long as we can cover our expenses in racing – that really is what it’s about. It is about winning, don’t get me wrong. As a race car driver, for me it’s about winning. It is. But if you’re going to run a race track it’s got to be about both.
It’s got to be about the fans first, and the competitors second.
OT: A lot of short tracks are closing. You’re bucking against the grain. Where does that commitment come from?
KW: I honestly feel like I know what is wrong with short track racing. I just really feel like crate motors – For example, if you want to race at any local short track right now. I don’t care where it is. If you’re going to run a Late Model, you have to have, have to have, a motor that, minimum, is $20--$30,000. That’s without the headers and the carburetor. That’s wrong.
