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NASCAR WCUP: Kenny Wallace always looks for something 'different' at Phoenix

1 November 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
CHARLOTTE, NC: No one will argue that Kenny Wallace, driver of the Square D/Cooper Lighting Chevrolet, isn't a unique individual. Maybe that is why the St. Louis native looks forward to Sunday's Checker Auto Parts/Dura Lube 500 at Phoenix International Raceway (PIR).

"When they built Phoenix International Raceway, they were looking for something different," said Wallace. "The stereotypical 1.5-mile NASCAR Winston Cup Series speedway wasn't in their heads at the time. I love that because it's a return to old school racing. Except for turns one and two, it's a nice flat track. It has a tri-oval down the backstretch and a flat corner in turns three and four. It reminds me of a smaller version of Pocono (Pa.) without as much of a dogleg on the backstretch. Phoenix is a lot of fun because you can drive all over the race track. It's like Richmond (Va.) in that you can use the bottom, middle or top grooves. Phoenix is just a cool place to race."

Over the past two seasons, Wallace has seen his share of success at PIR. The Square D/Cooper Lighting pilot has two top-20 performances, including an eighth-place finish in 1998 in which he qualified third for the event. But while Wallace appreciates what's inside PIR, he also enjoys what is outside the one-mile oval.

"I love the atmosphere in Phoenix," said Wallace. "I enjoy traveling across the United States. I really like the whole week leading up to Phoenix. It's one of my favorite times of the year because it's like a mini-vacation.

"Anytime a Winston Cup race is on the West Coast, everyone leaves two or three days early," explained Wallace. "We only get to visit West Coast cities once a year and there's so much to see on those trips. But because Phoenix is so close, my wife and I will get to go to Las Vegas twice this year. We'll spend Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Las Vegas before we head to the track. We hope to take in a show, eat at some good restaurants and do a little innocent gambling."

Text Provided By Chris Hunt

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