The laughs are back for Kenny Wallace
By Tim Packman, Turner Sports Interactive
November 6, 2001
9:47 AM EST (1447 GMT)
COMMENTARY
Kenny Wallace just isn’t right -- and I like that about him.
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Tim Packman
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This racing business is filled with enough drivers who will give the corporate answer to a legitimate question. Wallace, the open-minded driver that he is, doesn’t hesitate to speak from his heart.
When he walks into a media center for an interview or press conference, attendance is usually pretty good. The assembled are guaranteed some worthy quotes, honest answers and a laugh.
If Kenny doesn’t make you laugh, check your pulse.
On Friday in the media center after his interview, Kenny introduced Greg Biffle in a goofy, Ed Sullivan-like voice.
As he was about to hand the microphone to a bewildered Biffle, Kenny concluded by saying, “You’ve done so much and accomplished many things, young man. I just have one question for you: Are you married?”
After winning the Busch race on Saturday, he quipped: “I’ll be here all weekend. Tip your bartenders and waitresses and it’s a dollar cover charge.”
After finishing second on Sunday, he entered with: “You guys are still here? Did you all pay your cover charge?”
With that, I jumped up and handed him a dollar bill. And he kept it. Hey Kenny, it’s the best dollar I’ve ever spent.
But all joking aside, until recently, it was a season without laughter for Kenny.
Ask him about his offseason decision to switch from Andy Petree Racing to Eel River Racing and he’ll tell you it was a mistake. That team was unsponsored at the beginning of the year and thus, underfunded: the prescription for disaster in this business.
Eel River did get a sponsor, but it seemed to be too late to help. The car wasn’t a contender. Because of that, Wallace wasn’t considered a contender or even a driver, by some, anymore.
Because he had a falling out with the team and they parted ways after bad finishes and missing races, Kenny was suffering from the worst kind of stigma.
A great guy and fun to be around? Yes. A great driver who was kicking butt, winning races and poles? No.
So he just kept driving his Busch car, rolling to one victory, seven top-fives and 13 top-10s. He was 10th in points and seemed destined to just ride it out and enjoy himself.
Fast forward to now. Talk about your Kenny Wallace weekend.
Filling in for the injured Steve Park since Darlington, Wallace put Park's car on the pole Friday. On Sunday, he led 101 laps and finished second in Park's car.
That’s the way Kenny wants it to be. As long as Steve is recovering and they ask him to drive the car, Kenny will gladly help them out.
“This isn’t my car,” Kenny said. “If they wanted to put Steve back in tomorrow, I would be the first to welcome him back. Like I’ve said, I wish that they would say Steve was coming back next week. But it’s already been announced that realistically he won’t be back until Daytona next year ”
When Kenny got the call from Dale Earnhardt Inc., he didn’t want to take the ride at first. He felt awkward filling in for an injured driver, especially in such a high-profile car.
His brother Mike told him if he didn’t take it, someone else would. So why not drive a great ride and have some fun?
When Kenny won the Busch race Saturday, he got out and showed his appreciation by bowing to the crowd.
“I just wanted to thank them all for coming to the show,” he said.
Now, he’s in limbo as far as his future. He admitted to having some deals in the works but didn’t want to hurt anyone by letting us know what he is going to do. He truly cares about those around him and would rather do things the right way, this time.
“This sport is about timing,” he said. “You can get it in there and teams may not have their act together when you get with them. Somebody else can get with them a year later, and the timing is right and the team is better.
“I think the timing is right with my whole situation. It couldn’t come at a better time.”
And you know what? For Kenny Wallace, it all couldn’t come at a better time.
NOTE: Tim Packman is a staff writer with NASCAR.com. The opinions listed here are solely those of the writer. If you wish to provide feedback to Tim, you can do so by writing him at tim.packman@turner.com.
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