---

NASCAR Trucks: Mike Wallace looks to keep winning at next venue

5 April 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-- Mike Wallace garnered his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win Sun., March 26 in the Dodge California Truck Stop 250 at Mesa Marin Raceway in Bakersfield, Calif.

In one of the most spectacular finishes in racing of late, Wallace made a dominating sweep in his Team ASE Ford around Kurt Busch and held him off for four laps to become the first Craftsman Truck driver to win from the pole on the half-mile.

"That was pretty cool," said the middle Wallace brother. "It was just a fortuitous day. We sat on the pole yesterday, which was a big goal for us, then to be able to come back and win the race was great. We got a little behind there, but just kept digging."

Wallace has won two out of the season's four events.

Wallace hopes to continue on his upswing of late with another stellar NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series performance at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway April 8.

In the team's last appearance at the .526-mile speedway, the No. 2 Team ASE Ford started from the outside pole and led the most laps before the worst of luck struck -- the axle broke as Wallace was exiting pit road. The team hopes to rebound this year.

"We feel real positive about going to Martinsville," Wallace said. "We're going into this race with a fair amount of momentum and hopefully we can ride on that. We're testing next week, so we'll be in even better shape. (Crew chief) Tim (Kohuth) said if we were playing baseball we'd have a .500 average, and you only need a .375 to make it the hall of fame. We're on top right now and hopefully we'll stay there for the rest of the season."

Wallace would like to do well at Martinsville for its sentimental value as well.

"It's a special place for me, too, because that is where I ran my first Busch Series race in 1990," Wallace remembers. "That was when you still ran a qualifying race. We won that race out of 60 cars and finished the race in seventh."

With their win at Bakersfield (Calif.), Wallace and the Ultra Bad Boys retook the top spot in the Truck Series point standing.

Text provided by Michele Greth

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.