Kenny Wallace

Kenneth Lee Wallace (born August 23, 1963) is an American race car driver and former reporter for Fox NASCAR. He retired from NASCAR in 2015 after driving in the national series since 1988. In a career spanning 25 years in NASCAR, Wallace had nine wins, all occurring in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series. Now retired from NASCAR competition, he continues to race on local dirt tracks across the country as a hobby.

Early life Wallace is the youngest of three brothers Rusty and Mike, born to Russ and Judy Wallace. Russ was a prolific race winner himself, which made him unpopular with fans. Wallace earned his nickname, "Herman," early in life when Lake Hill Speedway promoter Bob Mueller made note of Wallace's boisterous behavior when taking up for his father, likening him to the mischievous cartoon character Herman the German. Wallace who was hyperactive as a child has been diagnosed with ADHD. He went to Fox High School in Arnold, Missouri.

Motorsports career Wallace began his racing career by working as a mechanic on his father's race cars and brother's team. He entered his first race, the Illinois Street Stock State Championship, in 1982, winning the event. In 1984, Wallace worked as a mechanic for Benfield Racing and Joe Ruttman, eventually being promoted to crew chief after Jake Elder left the team. During the 1987 seasons he finished in tenth once again securing seven top-tens, he raced his final full year in the ASA in 1988 where he finished 7th with ten top-tens.

Early Busch career In September 1988, Dale Earnhardt gave Wallace the seat for his first-ever NASCAR start, in which he finished eleventh in the Busch Series race at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 8 GM Goodwrench Chevrolet. The following year, he raced the full Busch Series schedule in a car owned by brother Rusty Wallace, sponsored by Cox Treated Lumber earning the 1989 Rookie of the Year award and finishing sixth in driver point standings with sixteen top-tens and three poles. In 1990, he made his Winston Cup debut at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the No. 36 Pontiac for Randy Cox, finishing 26th after a late-race crash, setting up the controversial finish, which saw Brett Bodine win. In twelve races, he finished in the top-ten three times. The following season, he won two poles, at Bristol and Martinsville respectively, but fell five spots in the standings. Despite seven top-tens in 1998, Wallace and Square D left FILMAR to drive Andy Petree Racing's new No. 55 entry. winning one pole and nailing down two top-tens, including a second place finish at Rockingham Speedway, tying a career best. making the 50th Daytona 500. Wallace was black flagged in the 500 for failure to maintain the NASCAR-required speed, allowing him to finished dead-last. Wallace drove for Armando Fitz early in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series season before switching to the No. 28 for Jay Robinson. The team suffered fuel pump issues in the Gatorade Duel and failed to qualify for the race.

In July 2012, Wallace was guaranteed a ride for one race in the No. 22 Penske Racing Nationwide car, but Sam Hornish Jr. was given the ride. In 2012, Wallace won the DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals Championship, a moment that he has called the highlight of his racing career. During the season, he won two races and secured seven top-fives and ten top-tens. In 2013 Wallace finished in fourth place with one win and nine top-tens.

In 2013, Wallace ran the inaugural Mudsummer Classic at Eldora Speedway and after winning the fourth heat race, he finished seventeenth after starting fourth in the event. He also ran at Chicagoland Speedway in the Truck Series, as well as running a limited schedule in the Nationwide Series for RAB Racing; at the Chicagoland Nationwide race, he made his nine-hundredth start in NASCAR's top three divisions. In late September, he qualified Brian Vickers' Sprint Cup Series car at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, due to a scheduling conflict; Vickers drove in the race and finished seventh.

In early 2015, Wallace competed in the Chili Bowl Midget Nationals for Loyet Motorsports. Also in 2015, Kenny's brother, Mike Wallace, had open heart surgery. Kenny was announced as his replacement in the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega, driving the No. 26 Xfinity Series Toyota for JGL Racing. Wallace was involved in a late-race accident and finished 38th. He joined RAB Racing for the Iowa race in June with the sponsorship from U.S. Cellular, finishing a respectable 23rd after starting from the rear of the field. He also announced that he would run his final NASCAR race at Iowa with Joe Gibbs Racing in August. He finished fifteenth in his final NASCAR start.

Wallace's 547 starts were the most in Xfinity Series history until Jeremy Clements surpassed him in 2026.

2016–present

Though his NASCAR driving career came to an end, Wallace continues to race on dirt tracks in his UMPDirtCar modified. In August 2016, he ran the Stadium Super Trucks race at the Charlotte Dirt Track, driving the No. 36 Safecraft Safety Equipment truck. He finished eighth in the event. He went on to finish the season in second place behind Nick Hoffman. Wallace finished in fourth place back to back years in DIRTcar Summit Racing Equipment Modified Nationals in 2016 and 2017, winning one race each year with eight top-fives as well.

In 2018, Wallace won the prestigious IWK 250 after Cassius Clark, Dave O'Blenis, and J.R. Fitzpatrick were disqualified for illegal carburetors.

In 2022, Wallace announced that it would be his final year of full-time racing and would race around 50 times in the DIRTcar UMP Modified field and the DIRTcar Nationals. Wallace won back to back Missouri / Illinois regional championships in 2022 and 2023.

Broadcasting and other ventures

In 2005, as part of Speed Channel's NASCAR coverage, Wallace co-hosted the popular pre-race program NASCAR RaceDay alongside John Roberts, offering analysis and interviews ahead of races. In 2023 Wallace and Robert's reunited to cover several races during that years NASCAR cup series season.

Following his retirement from NASCAR in 2015 Wallace worked as a reporter for Fox Sports serving as a reporter during NASCAR events till 2017. He also occasionally served as a broadcaster for NASCAR Truck Series events. Wallace later explained why he left the job in 2023, claiming that he did not enjoy spending so much time in airports while traveling for the job.

From 2015 to 2017, Wallace worked for SiriusXM NASCAR Radio as co-host of The Late Shift alongside former NHL player Colton Parayko.

Wallace started a personal YouTube channel in 2021, where he talks about motorsports. As of 2026, he has amassed over 158 thousand subscribers. He is known for his expansive and comedic personality which he displays during videos.

Personal life Wallace is a member of a large racing family. Wallace's father, Russ, was a prolific winner on Midwestern short tracks in the 1960s and 1970s. Kenny and his older brothers, Rusty Wallace and Mike Wallace, followed in their father's footsteps. Rusty is the 1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series champion and winner of 55 Cup Series races. Mike is a winner of four Nationwide Series and five Camping World Truck Series races. Rusty's son, Steve Wallace, is a former Nationwide Series driver, and Mike's daughter, Chrissy Wallace, has participated in multiple Nationwide Series and Camping World Truck Series races.

Living outside of St. Louis, Missouri, Wallace is married to Kim and has three daughters, Brooke, Brandy, and Brittany. He became a grandfather on May 19, 2016. Wallace is a fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. He has also become a motivational speaker. 36

MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL

Team SABCO 42 Pontiac DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL

SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR

Team III Racing

DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR

1992 Rusty Wallace Racing DAY CAR RCH ATL

BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL

NA 1993 Team SABCO 40 Pontiac

23rd 2893

FILMAR Racing 81 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC

DAY NHA POC

Charles Hardy Racing 44 Ford

IND GLN MCH

Robert Yates Racing 28 Ford

1995

BRI

SON

POC

NHA

TAL

GLN

DAR

DOV

NWS

CAR

ATL

42nd 878 1996

28th 2694 1997

33rd 2462 1998

31st 2615 1999

22nd 3210 2000

26th 2874

Eel River Racing 27 Pontiac

DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI

DAR BRI TEX

nowrap| Richard Childress Racing 29 Chevy

Michael Waltrip Racing

CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON

nowrap| Innovative Motorsports

NHA POC

MCH BRI

Bill Davis Racing 23 Dodge

MAR

Andy Petree Racing 33 Chevy

2003 Bill Davis Racing 23 Dodge

30th 3061

Michael Waltrip Racing 00 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX MAR

CAL RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON

CHI NHA POC

GLN

CAL RCH NHA DOV

MAR

PHO DAR

Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 1 Chevy

KAN

Michael Waltrip Racing

Chevy

CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO

RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON

GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA

Bill Davis Racing Dodge

nowrap| Front Row Motorsports 92 Chevy

NHA POC

Furniture Row Racing 78 Chevy

TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL TEX

Roush Racing 97 Ford

2006

POC MCH SON

POC

GLN

43rd 984

MCH

Petty Enterprises 45 Dodge

CAL

Robert Yates Racing 88 Ford

TAL CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM

Furniture Row Racing 87 Chevy

CAL LVS ATL BRI MAR TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON NHA DAY CHI IND POC GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV KAN

Michael Waltrip Racing 00 Toyota

CLT MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 2012 RAB Racing 09 Toyota

PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX KAN RCH TAL DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON KEN DAY NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI NHA DOV TAL CLT KAN MAR TEX PHO HOM 75th 01 2013 Michael Waltrip Racing 55 Toyota DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL MAR TEX KAN RCH TAL DAR CLT DOV POC MCH SON KEN DAY NHA IND POC GLN MCH BRI ATL RCH CHI

DOV KAN CLT TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM NA

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1993 Team SABCO Pontiac 24 23 1995 FILMAR Racing Ford DNQ 1996 33 21 1997 36 22 1998 DNQ 1999 Andy Petree Racing Chevrolet 33 42 2000 39 29 2001 Eel River Racing Pontiac 23 25 2002 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. Chevrolet 18 30 2003 Bill Davis Racing Dodge 21 16 2005 Michael Waltrip Racing Chevrolet 21 40 2006 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet DNQ 2007 DNQ 2008 17 43 2012 RAB Racing Toyota DNQ

Xfinity Series NASCAR Xfinity Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Pts Ref 1988 Dale Earnhardt, Inc. 8 Chevy DAY HCY CAR MAR DAR BRI LNG NZH SBO NSV CLT DOV ROU LAN LVL MYB OXF SBO HCY LNG IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR 74th 130 1989 Rusty Wallace Racing 36 Pontiac DAY CAR MAR HCY DAR BRI NZH SBO LAN NSV CLT DOV ROU LVL VOL MYB SBO HCY DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT CAR MAR 6th 3750 1990 DAY RCH CAR MAR HCY DAR BRI LAN SBO NZH HCY CLT DOV ROU VOL MYB OXF NHA SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NHA CAR MAR 7th 3829 1991 DAY RCH CAR MAR VOL HCY DAR BRI LAN SBO NZH CLT DOV ROU HCY MYB GLN OXF NHA SBO DUB IRP ROU BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT NHA CAR MAR 2nd 4190 1992 DAY RCH MAR BRI HCY LAN DUB NZH ROU MYB GLN VOL NHA IRP ROU NHA BRI RCH MAR HCY 6th 3966 Chevy CAR ATL DAR CLT DOV TAL MCH DAR DOV CLT CAR 1994 FILMAR Racing 8 Ford DAY CAR RCH ATL MAR DAR HCY BRI ROU NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW SBO TAL HCY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT MAR CAR 4th 3554 1995 DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NHA NZH CLT DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL SBO IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM 27th 1814 1996 DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NZH CLT DOV SBO MYB GLN MLW NHA TAL IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM 41st 1189 1997 Ricky Craven Motorsports 2 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL LVS DAR HCY TEX BRI NSV TAL NHA NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB 99th 85 FILMAR Racing 12 Ford GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAL CAR HOM 1999 Team Rensi Motorsports 25 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR TEX NSV BRI TAL CAL NHA RCH NZH CLT DOV SBO GLN MLW MYB PPR GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR MEM PHO HOM 23rd 2167 2000 DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TAL CAL RCH NHA CLT DOV SBO MYB GLN MLW NZH PPR GTY IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR MEM PHO HOM 30th 1814 Bill Davis Racing 22 Pontiac TEX NSV 2001 Innovative Motorsports 48 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL RCH NHA NZH CLT DOV KEN MLW GLN CHI GTY PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM PHO CAR HOM 10th 3799 2002 DAY CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX NSH CAL RCH NHA NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW CHI GTY PPR IRP BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL CAR PHO HOM 7th 4078 Pontiac TAL DAY MCH 2003 Michael Waltrip Racing 99 Chevy DAY CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX TAL NSH CAL RCH GTY NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL PHO CAR HOM 155th 0 2004 Bill Davis Racing 23 Chevy DAY CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL GTY RCH NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR IRP MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL PHO DAR HOM 9th 3851 Stanton Barrett Motorsports 91 Pontiac CAR 2005 Ppc Racing 22 Ford DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL NSH BRI TEX PHO TAL DAR RCH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR GTY IRP GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 7th 4068 2006 DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL BRI TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA MAR GTY IRP GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 11th 3626 2007 Team Rensi Motorsports 25 Ford DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL BRI NSH TEX PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI 114th 146 Richard Childress Racing 2 Chevy GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT Roush Fenway Racing 26 Ford MEM TEX PHO HOM 2008 Fitz Motorsports 36 Dodge DAY CAL LVS ATL BRI 16th 3121 Jay Robinson Racing 28 Chevy NSH TEX PHO MXC TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP CGV GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 2009 DAY CAL LVS BRI TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 11th 3569 2010 DAY CAL LVS BRI NSH PHO TEX TAL RCH DAR DOV CLT NSH KEN ROA NHA DAY CHI GTY IRP IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT TEX PHO HOM 19th 3198 Toyota GTY 2011 RAB Racing 09 Toyota DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX TAL NSH RCH DAR DOV IOW CLT CHI MCH ROA DAY KEN NHA NSH IRP IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH CHI DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 7th 963 2012 DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX RCH CHI 22nd 311 99 TAL DAR IOW CLT DOV MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 24 IND IOW GLN CGV BRI ATL RCH 2013 29 DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX RCH TAL DAR CLT DOV IOW MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 38th 155 2014 DAY PHO LVS BRI CAL TEX DAR RCH TAL IOW CLT DOV MCH ROA KEN DAY NHA CHI IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ATL RCH CHI KEN DOV KAN CLT TEX PHO HOM 65th 25 2015 JGL Racing 26 Toyota DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL 51st 56 RAB Racing 29 Toyota IOW CLT DOV MCH CHI DAY KEN NHA IND Joe Gibbs Racing 20 Toyota IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM

Camping World Truck Series NASCAR Camping World Truck Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Pts Ref 1995 Earl Barban Racing 90 Ford PHO TUS SGS MMR POR EVG I70 LVL BRI MLW CNS HPT IRP FLM RCH MAR NWS SON MMR PHO 44th 420 1996 Penske Racing South 22 Ford HOM PHO POR EVG TUS CNS HPT BRI NZH MLW LVL I70 IRP FLM GLN NSV RCH NHA MAR NWS SON MMR PHO LVS 34th 727 2007 Billy Ballew Motorsports 51 Chevy DAY CAL ATL MAR KAN CLT MFD DOV TEX MCH MLW MEM KEN IRP NSH BRI GTW NHA LVS TAL MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 83rd 124 2008 15 Toyota DAY CAL ATL MAR KAN CLT MFD DOV TEX MCH MLW MEM KEN IRP NSH BRI GTW NHA LVS TAL MAR ATL TEX PHO HOM 86th 97 2013 SS-Green Light Racing 81 Toyota DAY MAR CAR KAN CLT DOV TEX KEN IOW ELD POC MCH BRI MSP IOW CHI LVS TAL MAR TEX PHO HOM 99th 01

Superstar Racing Experience (key) Superstar Racing Experience results Year No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Pts 2023 36 STA STA II MMS BER ELD LOS 18th 01

CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led. ** – All laps led.) CARS Late Model Stock Car Tour results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pts Ref 2023 N/A 36 Ford SNM FLC HCY ACE NWS LGY DOM CRW HCY ACE TCM WKS AAS SBO TCM CRW 72nd 12

Season still in progress Ineligible for series points