Rusty Wallace

NASCAR Winston Cup Career: 1980-present

One of NASCAR Winston Cup racing's best and most outspoken competitors, Rusty Wallace has established himself as one of the premier racers on the circuit with an impressive list of accomplishments. The 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup champion, Wallace has 53 NASCAR Winston Cup victories and 36 pole positions to his credit. The 1984 NASCAR Winston Cup Rookie of the Year, he earned his first two NASCAR Winston Cup victories in 1986. He finished second in his NASCAR Winston Cup debut, at the 1980 Atlanta 500 at Atlanta International Speedway -- now Atlanta Motor Speedway -- in Hampton, Ga. He ranks second in NASCAR Winston Cup victories among active drivers, trailing only Dale Earnhardt. He led the most laps in both 1993, 1994 and 2000, earning the most wins, 10 and eight, in the first two years. Wallace was named National Motorsports Press Association Driver of the Year in 1988 and 1993. Wallace gave the Ford Taurus its first win when he secured his first Daytona victory in the 1998 Bud Shootout at Daytona.