After winning her fifth Late Model feature at Lebanon I-44 Speedway last Saturday night, the track officials knew she had recaptured their divisional points lead.
However, after some figuring by them and ASA officials on Monday, their calculations led them to believe their driving member of the Wallace family was on to something much bigger. And, they were right.
Wallace, the 23-year daughter of NASCAR winner Mike Wallace, is currently leading the ASA Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil National Championship points against drivers from hundreds of other tracks. She is also leading the ASA Western Division points, in addition to the track’s Late Model points.
Not bad for someone who struggled to find her place, and a steady ride, in the NASCAR ranks at one time. But, through her committed efforts at I-44 Speedway, she’s hoping someone will take notice in the NASCAR Camping World Truck, Nationwide and or ARCA Series.
“When I was struggling to find a ride, they told me to go prove I can win races,” said Wallace, from her aunt’s house in Missouri. “So, this opportunity came together for me to run this No. 93 Late Model and I’ve been doing exactly what they asked of me each week.
“The competition at this track is incredible. So, when you can win five races with three second places and only finish out the top-10 once in 14 starts; that says something about how good you have to be to succeed.
“Leading the three points divisions for ASA is something I didn’t even dream of at the beginning of this year. But, now that we’re doing that it makes me want to race even harder to prove I’m a winner.”
This isn’t the first time Wallace has been a winner, though. Through her years in Legends cars, Arena Racing and pretty much everything else she’s taken to the track in, she’s ended up in victory lane.
With several starts in the NASCAR Nationwide and Truck Series already to her credit, she showed flashes of being able to compete on a regular basis. In 2010, she made two NNS starts and in ’08 and ’09 she made seven combined Truck starts with four top-10 finishes and a best of 13th at Talladega Superspeedway in 2009.
The deal to race at I-44 Speedway came about when a group of businessman put their collective efforts together to field a Late Model team – just for Wallace. Backing from Althoff Trucking in High Ridge, Missouri; Pro Design Decals and a company out of California called Equalibryum are the main supporters of the efforts.
She’s been living with family in the area since May and not only drives the car, but works on it each week to get ready to race. If folks think this was being done by the backing of her dad, Mike, she’s says that isn’t the case.
“My dad lends me all the moral support he can give from our home in Concord, N.C.,” she said. “Because he’s driving his Nationwide car each week, he can’t be at the track or in the shop like he wants. Which is fine, in a way, because this has given me an opportunity to learn even more about race cars, handling and how to make them – and myself – race better.”
With just six races left in her quest for the championships, Wallace has set her goals for the short term and long term in her career.
“First, I want to win the I-44 Speedway Late Model Championship for all the people who helped make this happen,” she said. “Then, I want to use the next six weeks to win the ASA National and Western Division championships.
“I know I can drive and compete on a higher level. I proved to myself I can still do it, now I need to show others I’m ready to compete in the Nationwide, Truck or ARCA Series on a weekly basis.
“I’m good – and ready – to go.”
