Update on K. Wallace's WC Ride

Elwood · April 11, 2002

Waltrip to field car for Wallace at Talladega

By Dave Rodman, Turner Sports Interactive

April 10, 2002

1:44 PM EDT (1744 GMT)

SHERRILLS FORD, N.C. - Kenny Wallace is back in the Winston Cup Series -- at least for a race.

Atlanta-based Aaron's, after stepping up to sponsor both the NASCAR Winston Cup and Busch Series events at Talladega Superspeedway April 20-21, announced that they would sponsor a Winston Cup car at Talladega.

Wallace will drive the DEI car in the April 21 Aaron's 499. It will be owned by Michael Waltrip Racing. The car will carry the No. 98 and will be the first time Waltrip has ever fielded a Winston Cup car.

Waltrip, in addition to driving the No. 15 NAPA Chevrolet in the Winston Cup race will drive his own No. 99 Aaron's Chevrolet in the Aaron's 312 Busch race.

Wallace said that as far as he knew, the car was used by Waltrip in NASCAR aerodynamic testing and had also shown effective numbers in wind tunnel tests. Dale Earnhardt Jr. also used it during Speedweeks 2001 to finish sixth in the Budweiser Shootout.

"It's a good car," said Wallace. "People know Michael and I have a lot of fun, but we are serious competitors and we'll have a first class chance to find Victory Lane."

Wallace finished sixth in last October's EA Sports 500 at Talladega while replacing the injured Steve Park in DEI's No. 1 Pennzoil Chevrolet. He finished second to DEI founder, the late Dale Earnhardt in Earnhardt's last Winston Cup victory, the 2000 Winston 500 at Talladega.

DEI has limited Wallace's Winston Cup activity in case Park needs additional relief, after he returned to driving in March at Darlington Raceway.