Chrissy Wallace Rings Bell at NY Stock Exchange

Chrissy Wallace, NASCAR’s version of an up-and-coming Danica Patrick, had the distinct honor of ringing the closing bell on Wall Street Tuesday.  

This marked the first time a female driver in NASCAR had ever done so. 

“It was very cool,” said Chrissy, noting that only a few hundred people each year get the privilege of signaling the end of the trading day. 

Proud father and fellow racer Mike Wallace noted that NASCAR and corporate America go hand in hand and he felt privileged to be with his daughter as an ambassador of the sport in the heart of the financial world.

Chrissy Wallace has racing in her blood.  Father Mike drives the GEICO car and is most famous for his commercials with “cousin” Wallace, who is always threatening to put him “into the wall”. 

Uncles Rusty and Kenny have been racing stalwarts in the sport and are now both taking their turns in the broadcast booth. 

Cousin Steven Wallace is currently racing in the Nationwide series for his father’s team, Rusty Wallace, Inc.

As a teenager, Chrissy told all the Wallace boys that she too would one day be a NASCAR driver. That day has come, and she is now behind the wheel. 

Whether racing in the ARCA or Craftsman Truck series, she is taking her time, gaining seat and track experience, before jumping to the big leagues to go Cup racing.

While Chrissy Wallace recognizes the importance of her time behind the wheel, she also knows that she needs to attract those all important corporate sponsor dollars in order to be a viable racer in the field.  She has been working on her image with a stylist and recently participated in a photo shoot, showing the softer side to her hard racer’s edge.   

Wallace also attended the ESPY awards, again in an effort to get her name out in the sports marketing world.

In addition to her packaging, Wallace knows that she must perform on the track.  She realizes the value of a racing mentor and has turned to NASCAR Cup champion Tony Stewart for that advice and counsel. 

Stewart has often spotted for her, encouraging her throughout the race.  At the recent ARCA race at Pocono Raceway, Stewart was the one consoling Wallace after a horrific wreck, which unfortunately put her wickedly fast car out of contention.

But Tuesday it was Wallace’s turn to shine in the investment capital of the world.  And she enjoyed every minute of it, before jetting back to Charlotte to see her brother race in the Young Guns series at Lowe’s Motor Speedway.

Will Wallace’s racing genes and the tutelage from a NASCAR champion lead her to groundbreaking success as stock car racing’s first female star?  And will the Wall Street world take notice and invest in her talents?

Only time will tell. But from Wall Street to the next pit road, Chrissy Wallace can only look forward to her next exciting adventures on and off the track.