RAB Racing tabs Wallace for full-time ride in '11

CONCORD, N.C. -- RAB Racing with Brack Maggard will compete full time in the Nationwide Series in 2011 with Kenny Wallace as the team's driver. Wallace, who has more than 20 years of experience in stock-car racing, will drive the No. 09 Toyota.

"Having our plans in place before the Christmas holiday is great for team morale and will provide us with ample time to prepare for what we need to do for the upcoming season," RAB co-owner Robby Benton said. "We've made significant changes at RAB Racing over the last few months in an effort to elevate our program. Our alliance with Toyota, the relationship we have with TRD and now adding Kenny to the mix, will bring some depth to our program. It also helps tremendously having a driver with Kenny's notoriety. People love him and hopefully we'll be able to reinvigorate his fan base."

Wallace has competed in more than 800 events in NASCAR's top three divisions, including 488 Nationwide Series starts with nine victories, 10 poles, 63 top-five finishes and 159 top-10s. In addition to his on-track accomplishments, Wallace has been awarded the Nationwide Series Most Popular Driver award three times in 1991, '94 and 2006.

"I've been nervous since the final 2010 Nationwide Series race at Homestead trying to find the right fit for next year and now I can finally sleep at night," Wallace said. "My goal was to find a team with whom I could be competitive and I believe I have found that with RAB Racing; I'm ready to go for 2011. I have known Robby [Benton] and watched him grow his team for the past few years. The relationship with Toyota Racing Development is huge and will allow me to be able to work with at least three other Toyota teams, including my brother Rusty, and gain valuable information that will help us with the Nationwide program at RAB Racing next year."

Currently, RAB Racing has 16 races with primary sponsorship, beginning with the University of Northwestern Ohio at Daytona in February. Additional sponsors include Federated Auto Parts and Family Farmers, a coalition of corn and soybean farmers. Sponsorship opportunities are still available for the remaining 18 events.

"We have a lot going on within our marketing department right now," Benton said, "and I feel pretty confident about having all 34 races sold before the Daytona event in February."