The Buzz: Wallace sets retirement date?

He didn't say it in so many words, but in the pre-race notes for Saturday night's Pontiac Excitement 400 at Richmond International Raceway, Rusty Wallace hinted he might retire from driving in the Winston Cup Series at the end of the 2005 season, or at least cut back his schedule.

Wallace, 46, will celebrate 600 consecutive Winston Cup starts at Richmond, and will have 609 total.

"700 straight?" Wallace asked rhetorically. "I honestly don't think I'm going to make 700 straight, but it'll be probably 675."

If he stays on his current pace, Wallace would be 49 years old at the end of the 2005 season, would have 687 consecutive starts if the schedule remains at 36 races a season and would amass 697 total events.

"When you're talking 600 consecutive starts, that's pretty slick," Wallace said. "I almost missed it at Sears Point back in '93 after Earnhardt and I had that huge wreck at Talladega. I had a broken arm and I had Scott Sharp standing by to drive my car.

"I had a hell of a car that day, so I figured I'd stay in it. I ended up missing a shift and tore the transmission out of it and didn't finish the race, but looking at the number now I'm glad I stayed in the car.

"If I hadn't done that, we wouldn't be talking about 600 straight right now."

Wallace didn't much elaborate on the figure of 675.

"It's a cool number," he said. "You feel like you've been there, done that and paid your dues and accomplished something with that many starts -- you feel real good about it.

"I don't know if I'm any smarter than I used to be, but I'm sure putting quality ahead of quantity. I used to do everything in the world for everybody, and now I'm getting selective and calming down and putting focus on things I need to put focus on, and I think that's paying dividends."