With Park back, Wallace focusing on Busch title

DARLINGTON, S.C. -- Kenny Wallace moved over and up this weekend at Darlington Raceway.

After starting sixth and finishing fifth in the No. 48 Stacker 2 Chevrolet in the Darlingtonraceway.com 200, Wallace is now fourth in NASCAR Busch Series points.

			Kenny Wallace

With his first top-five of the year, he now trails point leader Jason Keller by a mere 39 points.

That was his move upward.

His move over came when Steve Park returned to action in the No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet in NASCAR Winston Cup Series this weekend. Park had been sidelined since last September with a brain contusion.

Wallace was called upon to fill the void, and with Park's return, Wallace will now concentrate his efforts on a Busch Series championship.

Wallace still remains an employee of Dale Earnhardt Inc. because of the contract he signed with them last year.

"I never try to drive my point home if I feel it is going to hurt someone," Wallace said. "The only point I'm trying to drive home is that people think that since I'm not driving the No. 1 car they feel bad for me.

"In reality, that's nice and I appreciate the sentiments, but this is the happiest I have ever been in my life. I can deal with not being in a Winston Cup car now because I know I can do it.

"I got 16 races out of the deal and came close a couple of times. It never was my car and I always knew that and it helped me all along with that situation."

Not that Wallace isn't looking to get back into Winston Cup Series racing. He says anyone who wants him to drive for their team has to go through DEI to make a deal.

Until then, Wallace is looking for win No. 10 in the Busch Series.

"The Busch Series is a competitive one," Wallace said. "And, it's okay with me to be racing here with the great team I'm with."