–Former NASCAR Champion and 55-Time Race Winner Humbled by Honor–
CHARLOTTE, NC (APRIL 11, 2012)–Officials of the NASCAR Hall of Fame announced this afternoon that former NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion and 55-time race winner, Rusty Wallace, has been named among the nominees for 2013 election to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Wallace, the 1989 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion and 1991 IROC Champion, won 55 Sprint Cup races during his NASCAR career, tying him for the eighth-best total of all-time. For sixteen straight seasons, Wallace won at least one race on NASCAR’s premier circuit, tying him for the third-longest such streak in history. Additionally, Wallace’s nearly 20,000 laps led mark the eighth-highest all-time total.
Said Wallace, “I’m extremely honored to be named as a nominee for the NASCAR Hall of Fame. There are just so many people that have made huge contributions to the sport, that to be recognized like this is just really humbling. This really means a lot to me and my family.
“There are a lot of people that have helped me to get to this point. I just really want to thank not only the nominating committee, but also all of the great fans, the media, the teams I drove with and all of the other people who have helped me throughout the years.
“I have so many great memories from my career, whether it’s winning the Cup and IROC championships, the 55 races we won, the Driver of the Year titles or being elected to the NMPA Hall of Fame. This sport has done so much for me and I hope that I’ve been able to give a little back over the years.”
Wallace’s nomination places him among the 25 nominees for 2013 election to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Five of the nominees will be chosen for election into the Hall, with voting taking place on May 23, 2012. Fans can now vote for Wallace’s election by visiting nascar.com up to once per hour.
# # #
About Rusty Wallace, Inc.
Founded in 1984 by auto racing legend, Rusty Wallace, Rusty Wallace, Inc. (RWI) is a multi-faceted enterprise with a strong focus on the automotive sector. The company’s capabilities include sports marketing, retail automotive sales, sports facility design and television broadcasting. RWI operates alongside sister entity Rusty Wallace Racing, from a state-of-the-art campus in Mooresville, NC. For more on RWI, please visit the award-winning rustywallace.com and follow on twitter at @RustyWallace.