![]() ![]() He had claimed his 49 th career victory at the 1999 Food City 500 one year earlier and everyone was eagerly anticipating when he would finally reach the mid-century mark in victories. Winning his 50 th at Bristol was fitting. In addition to Wallace, it includes Fred Lorenzen, David Pearson, Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Kurt Busch and Kyle Busch. Later in the year, he took the trophy home from America's Night Race as well to become one of only 10 drivers in history to sweep both Bristol Cup races in the same year. The victory was also his milestone 50th career NASCAR victory. At the Food City 500 he won the race at the controls of his famed No. In 2000, Wallace had a magical year at Bristol in the later stages of his career. It's a fun track to drive on, and every time I go there, the enthusiasm is sky high. "I'm happy with all the victories I have, but everyone associates everything I've done with Bristol because of all the success I've had there," Wallace said. He is being honored by speedway officials this weekend for owning that significant record and for all of his notable accomplishments in the tradition-rich NASCAR Cup Series event held every spring at the iconic Northeast Tennessee short track. He continues to hold the BMS record for the most Food City 500 victories, at six. In perhaps the most amazing underlying stat of his runs at Bristol, he only crashed out of three races in his 44 starts, which given Bristol's tight quarters accommodations and tendency for maximum chaos at all times is an incredible accomplishment in itself. ![]() He posted 22 top-fives, 29 top-10s and seven poles. In 44 career Cup Series starts at BMS, Wallace raced to nine victories and had seven second place finishes. "He started to win in the '80s, he kept winning all throughout the '90s in the Food City 500 and then came back and won again in 2000." "Rusty had a lot of success at Bristol," said racing historian and author David McGee. His Bristol Motor Speedway list of accomplishments rivals all who've ever competed on the famed all-concrete high-banked bullring. "So the first time I went to Bristol with, in what was my mind a really good team, the Blue Max team, I won my very first race."Īnd he kept on winning there over the years. "For me, I grew up on the short tracks in the Midwest and ran tracks like Winchester, Indiana-which was almost identical to Bristol," Wallace said. A product of the legendary short tracks throughout the Midwest, Wallace says it was love at first sight when he took his first lap at speed around The Last Great Colosseum. When Wallace hit the track at Bristol for the first time in the mid-1980s he knew immediately that this track complimented his driving style. You see, Wallace and The World's Fastest Half-Mile fit together like a strong hand inside a sturdy glove. You can further support their efforts at Patreon.When NASCAR legend Rusty Wallace thinks about his days at Bristol Motor Speedway, his head is filled with visions of personal milestones, checkered flags and record-setting performances. To watch the complete interview, visit The Scene Vault YouTube channel.įore more on the Scene Vault, check them out on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. To hear the entire podcast, visit The Scene Vault on iTunes. Join hosts Rick Houston and Steve Waid each week on The Scene Vault Podcast Presented by Q Ware as they take a look back at the extraordinary people, places and events woven into the rich tapestry that is our sport. As onlookers hooted and pressed toward the would-be combatants, the two men exchanged heated barbs … one more incident in Bristol’s long and storied history.įor more than 32 years, Grand National/Winston Cup/NASCAR Scene writers and photographers were there to record NASCAR history as it was being made. A water bottle tossed by Wallace hit Earnhardt squarely in the chest. Afterward, Earnhardt climbed from his car at Bristol’s gas pumps to face the media. Incensed, Wallace held onto his frustration … if not outright anger … for the rest of the night.Īlthough Terry Labonte spun across the finish line after contact from Earnhardt, he was able to cross it first and win the event. That was the plan, at least.Įarly in the event, however, it was Wallace who got turned by Earnhardt, not Gordon. Wallace and Earnhardt wanted Gordon out of the way, so they could settle Bristol between themselves. They were going to go after this new kid, Jeff Gordon, who was tearing up the Winston Cup circuit. Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt had an agreement going into the 1995 Bristol night race. ![]()
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