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NASCAR WCUP: Kenny Wallace looks for better days at Martinsville

29 September 1999

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

CHARLOTTE, N.C., - For Square D Chevrolet driver Kenny Wallace, it was dj vu all over again at Dover (Del.) Downs International Speedway last Sunday. In last year's fall race at the one-mile oval, Wallace made only two laps before his engine grenaded. In this year's fall race, Wallace was able to go 63 laps before being sidelined by engine problems.

If ever asked about his recent history at Dover, Wallace may want to take a quote from Yankee great Yogi Berra, who when asked why his Yankees weren't playing well he said, "I wish I had an answer to that, because I'm tired of answering that question."

Wallace's early exit from the MBNA Gold 400 left him 43rd in the final rundown, and dropped him three spots in the points to 27th, a tough pill to swallow considering he was 21st in points just 10 races ago.

"This is disappointing," said Wallace. "It's been a rough last couple of weeks. Hopefully, we'll bounce back next week at one of my favorite tracks - Martinsville (Va.)."

When Square D Chevrolet driver Kenny Wallace made his first trip to Martinsville (Va.) Speedway this season, he was mired 33rd in points. But a strong sixth-place finish at the .526-mile oval was exactly the boost the Square D Racing Team needed, as they followed up their Martinsville performance with an equally strong seventh-place effort the next week at Talladega (Ala.). After Talladega, the team had moved up 10 spots in the points to 23rd.

Heading back to Martinsville for the NAPA AutoCare 500, Wallace and company are looking for that same boost to get them out of their late-season funk.

"I've always run well at Martinsville," said Wallace. "Last time we were there, we didn't qualify where we would've liked (36th), but we were able to come right through the field. I think the reason I run so well there is because I know exactly what the car needs to get around the place. Jimmy (Elledge, crew chief) and I communicate well anyway, so we're on the same page when it comes to our Martinsville setup."

Throughout his driving career, Wallace has frequently placed himself on the pages of Martinsville's record book. He scored his first NASCAR Winston Cup Series pole (1997 Goody's Headache Powder 500), his second-best Winston Cup finish (fourth - 1994 Goody's Headache Powder 500) and two of eight NASCAR Busch Series, Grand National Division wins (1992 Miller 500 and 1994 Advance Auto Parts 500) at the venerable short track.

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