Wallace has plans to take family team Cup racing (cont'd)

Wallace said he loved Stremme and, "I'm glad that the performance he showed in our car last year got him that ride in the 12 car with Penske. We weren't going to be able to find a sponsor to run that 64 car ...

"When this opportunity with Mr. Gaughan happened I was elated, because I know that Brendan can get the job done, just like I know David Stremme could get the job done. And I really, really love the [Gaughan] family, so there isn't going to be any controversy between the drivers, I don't think.

"That's the camaraderie I want to build that unfortunately I either didn't have the talent to do, or didn't know how to do or it just wasn't going to happen with my previous teammates I've had in the past. But the snapshot that I did get was that when Brendan was with us at Team Penske him and I hit it off the whole year, perfect -- we had no problems. And by God it's starting right back up over here, and I'm excited."

Wallace said the family aspect of his operation should make that easy.

"I'll tell you what, there are a lot of dads that do a lot for their kids," Wallace said. "My whole family works for me -- [older son] Greg, Stephen, my daughter Katie -- we're all one big family at our place. I'm proud of what I've got and I think I've got the parts to move it up to Cup, I really do."

Brendan Gaughan agrees and, based on a 15th-place finish in the season opener, he's eager to see what this season brings.

"I never had a whole lot of desire to drive in the Nationwide Series," Gaughan said. "I liked the Camping World Trucks, and I wanted to get back to Sprint Cup, but on my own terms, and Rusty really has me excited about this. Doing this with Rusty is probably the only way I'd be this excited. He brings that out of me and out of all his guys.

"I'm looking at this and saying, 'Yeah, I want to get back to Sprint Cup one day, on my terms, but I know that Rusty wants to maybe go Sprint Cup racing one day on his terms, with his team so if I can do well and me and [Steve] can work together and get it to where we both can run, then maybe I've found my home on my terms with a family organization that likes me, wants me and we can make a long future with.

"That would be like Nirvana. I would love to be able to say that I went Sprint Cup racing with Rusty on his own team with me and Stephen and have a [good] time doing it."