After a slow start to Rusty Wallace Racing’s 2011 Nationwide Series season, RWR’s Steve Wallace (No. 66 5-Hour Energy Toyota Camry) may have delivered just what the doctor ordered his ailing team, in Friday night’s Royal Purple 200 at historic Darlington Raceway.
After starting from the seventh position, the young driver not only battled the “Lady in Black,” but conserved fuel and out-dueled Cup Series star Clint Bowyer in the waning laps to score a fifth-place finish at the track “Too Tough to Tame.”
Wallace’s effort in Darlington marked his second top-five and fourth top-15 in the last four Nationwide Series events at the South Carolina track. Combined with an 11th-place finish at Richmond, Wallace is now on the most successful two-race stretch of his difficult 2011 Nationwide Series campaign.
After being ranked among the top-ten in the Nationwide Series standings for 23 straight weeks entering 2011, Steve Wallace’s top-five finish in Darlington allowed him finally to crack the top-ten again for the first time in 2011. Wallace is currently ranked tenth overall and maintains an eight-point margin over JR Motorsports’ Josh Wise in 11th. He stands a mere six points behind ninth place and 18 markers adrift of Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brian Scott for eighth.
Said Wallace, “This was a good run for our team; we really needed it after the way our season has started. We had a good car tonight; our guys have worked hard and this was definitely the most consistent car we’ve had all year. It was the first time this season that I’ve been able just to drive the car and not worry about it doing something crazy in the next corner.
“Our car started out every run pretty loose, but got better and better as the run went on. Doug Randolph (Crew Chief) made a great call to stay out on the last caution. Only a couple of those guys managed to get by us and we were able to maintain our track position. We were really close on fuel at the end, but the guys did a good job of reminding me to save fuel and it turned out well for us.
“I’d like to thank everyone at 5-Hour Energy for their support. We haven’t performed as well as we’ve wanted in 2011, but we’re all working really hard to get this season turned around for those guys and our other sponsors too. Hopefully this is the start of good things for us.”
Rusty Wallace Racing/Steve Wallace PR
- Talladega Superspeedway Weekend Schedule - April 14, 2024
- Odd Tony Stewart Talladega Post Race Q&A - May 7, 2012
- Team Chevy Post Talladega Race Rundown - May 7, 2012