K. Wallace signs Winston Cup deal with Bill Davis

CONCORD, N.C. -- Kenny Wallace and current NASCAR Busch Series sponsor Stacker 2 will ascend to the Winston Cup Series in tandem next season after inking a two-year deal with Bill Davis Racing, the team announced.

	Kenny Wallace

"Bill Davis runs a first-class organization, with a great motor program, good engineering and that all-too-important factory backing from Dodge," Wallace said.

"That's all real important to me. I hope this is the last place I ever drive. I want to end my career here."

On Tuesday afternoon, Wallace was named to replace Hut Stricklin as the driver of the No. 23 Hills Bros Coffee Dodge for the remainder of the 2002 campaign, beginning with this weekend's Mountain Dew Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Aside from a brief stint last season at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., in a substitution role for injured driver Steve Park, Wallace has had an unfulfilling Winston Cup career to date.

From FILMAR Racing to Eel River, he's been thrown to the proverbial wolves with start-up team after start-up team.

His two-year run in the No. 55 Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet produced a pair of runner-up finishes -- including a second-place finish to Dale Earnhardt at Talladega in Earnhardt's last victory -- but for the most part was so-so at best.

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But that didn't deter Bill Davis from approaching Wallace last October at Martinsville with a sparkling offer. Wallace, still subbing for Park at the time, had no concrete plans for 2002. Davis wanted him in the No. 23 Dodge and, according to Wallace, was willing to run a team out-of-pocket if necessary.

The two had a longstanding friendship, dating back to the days when Wallace's older brother Rusty battled Mark Martin on short tracks all over Missouri and Arkansas. It seemed a perfect union.

Then, Hills Bros came along with an offer Davis couldn't refuse. They'd sponsor the 23 car if Stricklin was given the seat. Davis complied.

"I was flattered to have him come up to me at the end of last year when I had no sponsors and asked me to drive his car, before he knew about Hut Stricklin and the Hills Brothers deal," Wallace said. "That really meant a lot to me. But after Hills Brothers came long, there was no seat for me there."

	Credit: Dave Rodman, TSI

There is now, and Wallace feels like he can contend from day one. He feels that with Davis' help, he can finally fill the biggest void in his life -- lack of a Winston Cup victory.

He nearly filled that void last season at DEI, when he finished second to Joe Nemechek at Rockingham after starting from the pole.

And while he didn't win, he proved his mettle in the No. 1 car.

"I'm 39 years old, and the thing I got going for me is I proved my ability in the Pennzoil car," Wallace said. "I don't have to go through that ability question thing like I did there for a couple of years.

"I'd say I thought Andy Petree was a good home for me, but it just didn't work out. But this, for sure, is the first established team I've ever been with. Every other team was a start-up team."

Now, with the best opportunity of his career staring him in the eye, Wallace looks to the future will renewed vigor.

"I've accomplished all my goals. I've won Busch Grand National poles, won races, Rookie of the Year. I've won Winston Cup poles, had three second-place finishes. But I've never won. That's a big void in my life, to not have a win.

"None of this would be possible without Stacker 2. They're enabling me to acquire that void, get a Winston Cup win. I feel like I'm damn ready to go, that's for damn sure."