NASCAR Trucks: Mike Wallace heads home for St. Louis and 160 laps of racing exci tement
18 August 1999
Mooresville, NC. August 17, 1999. In his last two races, Mike Wallace has finished 2nd and 3rd (Loudoun and IRP, respectively). In both races he was oh, so close to capturing his third truck series win of 1999. After a rare weekend off from the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series racing action, St. Louis native Mike Wallace is excited to be heading home for another shot at victory in the 19th event of the year at Gateway International Speedway. Wallace and his Team ASE Ford are currently 6th in the series points standings. The goal for the weekend? To improve the team's position in the standings. And how? By adding another top five-finish to their nine they have already posted in 1999. With his game-face on, Wallace also adds that the mile and a quarter track will offer some unique challenges to all the teams. "This track is a lot of fun to drive in turns 3 and 4 where the truck can sweep through and be fast, but in turns 1 and 2 it is a lot tighter," says Wallace. "This is a track of compromise, there is no way to be perfect at both ends. You just have to get your set-up for turns 3 and 4, and accept what happens to you in 1 and 2." Wallace will have his own special fan section cheering him on at Gateway. He has organized a private suite for forty of his closest friends and family for the race. If Mike should find victory lane for the third time this season, he will definitely have plenty of company in town to share in the celebration! Wallace NCTS record at Gateway: 1998: Q 18th F 9th 160/160 laps Ultra Motorsports record at Gateway: 1998: Q 9th F 17th 159/160 laps 1998 vs. 1999 for Mike Wallace YTD: 1998 1999 After first ten races: laps completed 1628/1759 (92.5%) 2004/2045 (98%) average start/finish 10th/13th 12th/11th wins/poles 0/0 2/0 After eighteen races: laps completed 2916/2988 (97.5%) 3270/3333 (98.1%) average start/finish 10th/16th 11th/10th wins/poles 0/1 2/0 Team ASE Factoid: MORE CONSISTENCY FOR MIKE WALLACE and the TEAM ASE FORD in 1999. * In 14 of 18 races so far in 1999, Mike has completed 100% of the total laps possible. In 1998, Mike completed 100% of the laps in 14 races over the entire season. ASE has been a major sponsor in the truck series since 1996, along with associate sponsors Ultra Wheels, Wagner Brake Products, Snap-on Tools, and Valvoline. ASE, The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, is a non-profit organization founded in 1972 with the mission of improving the quality of automotive repair service through the voluntary testing and certification of technicians. There are over 450,000 ASE-certified technicians working in all types of service repair facilities in North America.
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