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The NASCAR Nationwide season is now history, with Carl Edwards winning the race and Clint Bowyer claiming the championship in one of the closest points race battles ever...

Steve Wallace: The "Dennis the Menace" of NASCAR's Nationwide Series

by Mary Jo Buchanan (Senior Writer)

22

3,601 reads

Opinion

November 15, 2008


The NASCAR Nationwide season is now history, with Carl Edwards winning the race and Clint Bowyer claiming the championship in one of the closest points race battles ever.

These two drivers truly brought great excitement and rivalry to the Nationwide series for the 2008 race season.

But there is another Nationwide driver, one of the regulars, that has drawn attention to himself in this final race, as well as throughout the year, in a slightly less positive way.

With the season that this young driver has had, he truly could be dubbed the "Dennis the Menace" of the Nationwide series.

This driver comes from a storied racing family, with Rusty Wallace as dad and Mike and Kenny Wallace as favorite uncles.

But Steve Wallace, heir apparent to the Wallace racing throne, really is more like Dennis the Menace, leaving trouble in his wake almost each and every week.

In today's Nationwide finale, Steve Wallace again showed his similarity to well meaning, but prone to problems, Dennis the Menace by tangling with fellow racer Scott Lagasse Jr. Wallace edged into Largesse’s Incredible Pizza Chevy, turning him hard into the wall.

And this isn't the only race where mischievous Wallace has left other wrecked race cars, and upset drivers, flowing behind him. 

In fact, in almost every Nationwide race, when there is trouble on the track, young Wallace’s No. 66 Rusty Wallace Incorporated Chevy seems to be lurking right there in the shadows.

Steve Wallace has quite a history of being a Dennis the Menace type instigator.  Stories have been told about his acquiring some dynamite from Sterling Marlin, setting it off in his toilet, and blowing up the bathroom.

Wallace has also been diagnosed with Tourette's syndrome.  This malady may contribute to his propensity for trouble, in spite of meaning well and trying his hardest.

In spite of his challenges, Steve Wallace has had some success in his short racing career.  He raced in the Hooter Pro Cup series for two years with three top tens and then at age 18, was the youngest ARCA winner in the race at Michigan International Speedway.

This year, Wallace's 2008 Nationwide record, however, has been up and down at best.  He has had two top five and seven top ten finishes.  Yet, his average start this season was 20.3 and his average finish was 20.2, again not stellar results for the race year.

Many defend Steve Wallace, feeling that he is just beginning to find his way this season in the Nationwide series. 

His fans hope that he is just getting his wrecking out of his system and will eventually find the car control he needs to start winning races and moving forward in his career.

But for 2008, young Wallace has indeed been the Dennis the Menace of the Nationwide series.  Just ask Scott Lagasse Jr. and he will most certainly attest to that, especially after today’s final Nationwide race.

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22 comments Last one added 6 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Kara Martin 7 months ago

    Oh this is perfect. He IS Dennis the Menace! I LOVE it, what an awesome comparison!

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  2. Carol Messinger 7 months ago

    I LOVE it Mary jo and you are so right. He is Dennis the Menace but in true Wallace fashion, he will ALWAYS blame the other guy, he could never be the bad guy or do something on purpose ! God help the guy who has to drive next to him . Give it up Steve , maybe the little Wallace kid in the commericals could take him out !
    Carol

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  3. Andy Stotts 7 months ago

    I have been off for a while, but this one is great. Acutally I think you were too nice to him.

    He is a lot like his father. I have seen his father walk facing away from the fans so they could not take his picture and would never give an autograph UNLESS the TV cameras were rolling. Then he was all smiles and fan friendly.

    Steven will wreck anyone at any time, Just ask his uncle Mike, Kyle Busch, David Rutterman. When ever there was an ARCA wreck or this year a Nationwide wreck, just look for the 66 car and you will find the cause.

    If he was not Rusty's son, he would not be able to drive an shopping cart. Sponsors watch your money, many better drivers and teams to put you money on.

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    • Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago

      Yes Andy I know how you feel about this young driver - you never hold any punches! Thanks for your pick and glad you're back.

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  4. Lou 7 months ago

    Mary Jo,

    I'm not sure where you got your facts from, but Steven Wallace was far from successful in the Hooters Pro cup Series. He did NOT win the Hooters Pro Cup Series in 2005.

    In fact he never even won a race in the Pro Cup Series.

    Wait - it gets better! In his brief 14 race stink, he never even had a top 5 finish and led a grand total of 1 lap. Much like his current race results, he did have 8 DNF's in those 14 starts.

    Hardly what you should be calling "successful". A little fact checking always makes a story more believable.....

    I know the Pro Cup Series is struggling for it's future right now, but it's reputation as being the best short track racing series in the country should not be sullied by attributing "Dennis the Menace" as even being close to one of the many quality drivers who have races in Pro Cup.

    http://www.procupdigest.com/driver/driver-detail.php?did=198

    Lou

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    • Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago

      Thanks Lou for your correction - I think I got this off Steve's website but.....could have been another less reliable site. I have corrected the story and really appreciate your calling it out. Agreed, the Pro Cup series is a good one and want to make sure the facts are straight there. Thanks again.
      Mary Jo

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  5. Lou 7 months ago

    No problem Mary Jo. It would not the first time that a driver website has embellished their accomplishments. As operator of several websites covering the Pro Cup Series, I tend to be a little sensitive :-)

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  6. racethis 50 7 months ago

    I'd like to know why he isn't fined or is still aloud to race if he is being so intentionally irresponsible on the track? Of course bumping and wrecking are a part of the territory, but it sounds like he seriously is a menace. Shouldn' t there be some Board that reviews some of these young drivers and puts them out or on probation after a certain percentage of wrecks? I think this should be looked at for all developmental drivers or those under a certain age or years of track experience. It's a safety issue and it's costing a lot of new drivers a lot of money (at the very least) in these hard economic times.

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    • Mary Jo Buchanan 7 months ago

      Agreed racethis, but you've got to remember who his dad is - when he has a company to race for and sponsorship, he gets to stay out and wreak havoc. Again, some say that he, like Jeff Gordon who wrecked often in his early racing, is just getting his bearings. But he sure does cause trouble almost each and every race it seems.

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    • S M Napier 7 months ago

      I agree with you racethis, but the kids over his head and needs to park himself. Or Rusty needs to suck up his pride, walk up to Steve, say son I'm pushing you too hard and we need to take a step back. Go back to either ARCA, CWES or the local track, try to race with out wrecking everyone or just hang it up.

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  7. racethis 50 7 months ago

    RAWR, lol. Regardless, there should be some watchdog activities for these young drivers, regardless and a review done and perhaps a warning when it seems to be over the top....

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  8. Heath Heidemann 7 months ago

    Dennis the Menace he is! Every time they show him next to anyone on the track I cower in fear of who is going for a ride this time!

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  9. S M Napier 7 months ago

    If he's not Rusty son, the powers to be would have sent him back to the local short track and Chrissy has more talent then him.

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  10. bill west 6 months ago

    Steve is kind of like Dale Earnhart Sr, wrecking everyone and acting like it wasn't his fault!!!!!

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