Wallace close again, but streak still in jeopardy

AVONDALE, Ariz. -- With Rusty Wallace finishing second in the Checker Auto Parts 500 on Sunday, he certainly loaded up his proverbial plate for next weekend.

	Rusty Wallace (2) did not lead a single lap in his runner-up run Sunday at PIR. Credit: Autostock

For the fourth time this year, Wallace wheeled the No. 2 Miller Lite Ford into the runner-up position. After starting 29th, Wallace utilized a fast race car and pit strategy to work his way to the front.

But, not close enough to catch race winner Matt Kenseth. But, Wallace is now tied for fourth in the standings with rookie Jimmie Johnson. Both lead Jeff Gordon by one point.

"We had a great car all day long," Wallace said. "We have one race left and I hope I can win my first race of the year in Homestead next weekend. I really thought we could do it here today.

"We had ourselves in position many times and we just weren't able to do it. You race all year long and the points end up that close."

As the final race looms next weekend, Wallace has three daunting tasks to accomplish in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

First, he needs to win the race just for the sake of winning. Secondly, he needs to win to keep the 16-year win streak alive. Third, he needs to finish better than Jimmie Johnson to break the points tie they have.

By the way, the difference between fourth and fifth in the season-ending point payout from Winston is $120,000.

Checker Auto Parts 500 Matt Kenseth uses a two-tire stop to win at PIR. Play video Junior rules the early stages until he runs out of gas. Play video Rusty falls one lap short of his first win of the year. Play video  •  Results  •  Standings  •  Kenseth wins again  •  Junior rallies to finish fifth  •  Points race still not over

Wallace is already looking forward to next weekend because of the car he will be driving. After all, he just tested it for 312 laps at Phoenix.

"We had a car scheduled to come out here we called our 27 car," Wallace said. "We tested it in St. Louis and learned some things there for this (Phoenix) race. We got back, put another car in the wind tunnel and found one better.

"So, we decided to race that here and decided if we got through this race clean enough we'd take it to Homestead. It doesn't have a scratch on it so I get my best bullet going to Homestead this weekend.

Wallace said he's going all out at Homestead.

"It's going to be a real-high intensity week next week. I'm going to get down there early and get ready for the race and work on set ups and the chassis.

"I called Larry Wallace (engine specialist) and told him I wanted the very best engine in the house in that No. 2 car. It was a good engine."

Wallace was asked if he felt for Billy Wilburn, his rookie crew chief, if the winning streak ended during his first year in charge.

"No, not really," Wallace said laughing. "I'm going to whip his (butt).

"But, no, I love the guy he's great. Hey, if we don't win Homestead, which we are, then we'll go to the Daytona 500 in 2003 and win that sucker."