Wallace Jr. honored to 'carry the torch' of Scott

KBM driver will change numbers at Martinsville in tribute to 2015 NASCAR Hall inductee

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- In the year since his first victory in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, Darrell Wallace Jr. says he has learned much about former driver Wendell Scott.
 
When Wallace won the Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway last October, he became the first African-American to win a race in one of NASCAR's three national series since Scott accomplished the feat nearly 50 years earlier.
 
"I didn't know he lived only 30 minutes away (from the Martinsville track)," Wallace said of the Danville, Virginia, native. "I didn't know his family was there (that day)."

Wallace will be one of two NASCAR drivers to honor the long-time racer when the Camping World Truck and Sprint Cup Series return to the 0.526-mile track Oct. 24-26. Wallace's Kyle Busch Motorsports entry, pictured below, normally sporting the No. 54 on its sides and roof, will sport a blue No. 34 with red trim under which Scott competed.

Sprint Cup Series driver David Ragan's No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford will feature a similar blue paint scheme reminiscent of that used by Scott.
 
Both vehicles will carry NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductee markings to promote Scott's upcoming induction.

 
Wallace, who has since picked up NCWTS wins at Gateway and Eldora, said he had watched a documentary detailing Scott's NASCAR career before his Martinsville victory.
 
"It was rough to watch, for sure," Wallace, 20, said during Tuesday's unveiling, which was held in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
 
"It reminds me of watching "42" (The Jackie Robinson Story) a couple of weeks ago just to see what Jackie Robinson went through. It kind of makes you appreciate things more in life away from racing, just life itself.
 
"To be able to carry the torch that Wendell (lit), for me to put our Toyota in Victory Lane last year and now to come back a year later with the iconic No. 34 that myself and David will run, it's going to be a good weekend."
 
Scott earned one win, 20 top-five and 147 top-10 finishes in 495 career starts in NASCAR's premier series. Between 1964 and '69, he never finished lower than 12th in the points standings, and posted a career-best sixth in 1966.
 
Scott will be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Jan. 30, 2015, along with fellow inductees Bill Elliott, Fred Lorenzen, Joe Weatherly and Rex White.
 
Anne B. France will be honored with the inaugural Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

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