NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace recently announced his retirement at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Early years: Russell William Wallace was born Aug. 14, 1956, in Fenton, Mo. He grew up in St. Louis.
Career: Wallace made his racing debut in 1973 at Lakehill Speedway near Valley Park, Mo. In 1973, the Central Auto Racing Association named Wallace Rookie of the Year. He recorded more than 200 feature-race wins between 1974 and 1978. In 1979, he joined the United States Auto Club stock car circuit and was named Rookie of the Year. In 1983, Wallace won the ASA ACDelco Challenge Series championship. In 1984, he was named Rookie of the Year at the Cup Series.
Wallace won his first Winston Cup in 1986 at Bristol Motor Speedway in the Valleydale 500. In 1988 and 1993, Wallace was named NMPA Driver of the Year and voted one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers.
In 1996, Wallace won the Suzuki NASCAR Thunder 100 and was the first winner of the NASCAR Winston Cup international competition.
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During his career, Wallace has made over $39 million in earnings. He is a 54 time race winner on NASCAR's top circuit and holds 36 pole positions.
In 1998, Wallace was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. He is an avid golfer and has logged over 10,000 flight hours as a pilot.
Family: Wallace and his wife, Patti, live in Charlotte, N.C. and have three children -- Greg, 24, Katie, 19 and Steve, 17.
In his words: "From the time I was 10 years old, I was determined to be a race-car driver. My dad was a racer, and as I worked on his car at home and watched him race from the stands, I knew that was what I wanted to do with my life -- get in a race car and drive it as hard and fast as it could go."
Web link: www.nascar.com
Compiled by Carol Bursack Sources: nascar.com
