About life and fairness, and how it is for a racer's racer (cont'd)

It makes you think back, both sadly and fondly, to that time this past September when JRR and Wallace still was reeling from the loss of team manager and crew chief Kenneth Campbell, the racer's racer and a go-to guy in the Nationwide garage for everyone from owners to fans to the media who got sick, battled gamely and then, all too suddenly, was gone.

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You can't help but smile when Wallace, more than a little wistfully, says "Kenneth would've really appreciated what Chris has pulled together here, because all he ever wanted to do was run the team."

Campbell isn't missed any less this week than he was this past September, but a good part of his legacy is sitting in the Nationwide garage's "high-class neighborhood."

That's part of what's the racer's wage, a little privilege and a lot of respect.

And as he heads for his 425th series start this weekend, that's all Wallace wants, is a little racer's respect. He'll get a break from TV this week, with no Cup events scheduled.

And will it make a difference? Not really, because for Wallace, the TV role doesn't start until the racer's gear is packed.

"Is there a conflict with TV?" Rice asked at Texas. "No. Kenny is 110 percent committed to this race team and what it needs from the time he arrives at the track until the time we load this 28 car up. I have no question about that and I've never questioned that -- never questioned his commitment to this team or what we're trying to accomplish."

So if there are questions, why not take the leap -- why not just get a guarantee, if you can, from the executive producer that there will be a place for you when you get back and quit TV for a year or two? Make a point. Race exclusively until you feel that's been proven.

But after you look around, and you talk to a few people, and you watch a little TV, it occurs to you that for someone in Wallace's position, prep work and studying material and taking time away from the racing program probably isn't an issue. He probably doesn't do any of that -- he just shows up and lets it fly.

And for a guy with modified cars to race, the TV money is certainly worth a tire or two and a little gas money.

So find Wallace in the Nationwide garage this weekend -- that shouldn't be hard -- but don't listen for that braying donkey laugh of his. Until the checkered flag flies, he'll be too serious to laugh much. There's too much at stake.

But I double-dog-dare you to ask him if he'd drop his TV gig, or if he loses time from his racing preparing for it; because I know what he'll answer. When you love something this much, and you live it this intensely, you don't need no stinkin' notes package.

It just flows.

Just like when you're a race car driver. (Continued)