Wallace thrilled after weekend full of prosperity

By Steve Almasy, CNNSI.com
November 4, 2001
9:11 PM EST (0211 GMT)

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- Kenny Wallace, never one to hide his happiness, was extra giddy Sunday night.

Kenny Wallace

His second-place finish in the Pop Secret Microwave Popcorn 400 at North Carolina Speedway capped an amazing weekend where he won a Busch race, a pole for the Cup race and matched his career-best finish in NASCAR's top series.

In the battle of the brothers Wallace, it was Kenny's second "victory" against older siblings Rusty -- a former Winston Cup champion and a winner of 54 races in his career -- and Mike in the past five races.

Unofficial Results  Unofficial Standings  NASCAR families: The Wallaces  Nemechek wins  An unexpected win  Notebook: Pop Secret 400  No. 17 wins challenge  Rudd gains 54 points  Video: Nemechek wins  Video: K. Wallace second

"I told everyone, I'm back -- by popular demand," Kenny said.

It was the best weekend of his 16-year racing career. He has just six top-five finishes in his Winston Cup existence and has never finished better than 22nd in points. Since taking the wheel of the No. 1 Chevrolet for the injured Steve Park in September, however, Wallace has been among the top-20 finishers five times in nine races.

"I'm ecstatic for him," said Mike, who finished 32nd. "It's great to see him get this opportunity. Everybody gets frustrated at times. But it's not like Kenny has suddenly become a good driver. You get in the right car with the right situation and you can show what you can do."

Both Mike and Rusty had frustrating days at The Rock. Rusty appeared to have a shot at a top-10 finish, but a broken valve stem on lap 351 put the No. 2 Ford in the pits. Rusty slipped from 11th, one lap back, to 24th, two laps behind.

Mike's No. 12 Ford was tight at the beginning of the day and he quickly dropped from his starting spot of 20th to 31st.

Mike Wallace (right) poses with brother Kenny.

"We just missed it," he said. "We were loose in final practice and we overadjusted. Now I'm not going to say we were as fast as the top five cars, but toward the end of the race we were able to run with [the No. 25 of Jerry] Nadeau."

For Mike, it was a slight setback. He replaced Jeremy Mayfield just before the UAW-GM 500 at Charlotte about a month ago. Basically the last weeks of the season are an audition for him. On Saturday he said he might know something "next week."

Team owner Roger Penske was in California this weekend at the CART finale.

"I hope I'm getting the right feeling from a lot of people that have talked to him," he said earlier in the week.

Coy Kenny says he knows where he will be next year, he just doesn't want to announce it yet. He thinks an official announcement will come at Atlanta.