Matt Wallace makes NASCAR Xfinity Series debut
The 19-year-old Wallace, son of former NASCAR driver Mike Wallace, will be competing in the No. 26 JGL Racing Toyota. He also is the nephew of former Sprint Cup champion and Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace and longtime NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace.
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Wallace, who also competes for Kimmel Racing in the ARCA Racing Series, will make his second start of the season in the July 24 ARCA event at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Raceway. Matt’s second start in the Xfinity Series will be at Iowa Speedway on Aug. 1.
“We have a lot going on, and I feel very privileged to have this opportunity to drive for JGR Racing in the Xfinity Series," said Wallace, who is a sophomore at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College. Wallace said he plans on transferring to UNC Charlotte to major in business administration
“It’s basically a teenager’s dream to do what I’m going to do (at New Hampshire)," he added
In his debut ARCA start this season at Toledo (Ohio) Speedway, Matt earned the first top-10 of his career by finishing 10th. Matt noted the performance at Toledo was what interested JGL Racing in him. Wallace also finished fifth in the Mercy "Masters of the Pros" 144 Late Model race at Lebanon (Mo.) I-44 Speedway on July 4.
Instead of playing high school sports at Northwest Cabarrus, Wallace raced and continues to have his hopes set on making NASCAR his chosen profession.
“I played sports in middle school, but once I got to high school, there was just no time for it because I was always gone racing on Thursday and then Friday when they have football games," Wallace said.
Wallace isn’t shy when it comes to speaking about how proud he is to be a part of the Wallace racing lineage. Mike Wallace competed in all three of NASCAR’s top divisions, while Rusty Wallace won 55 Sprint Cup races and the Cup championship in 1989.
“My father’s influence on me has been very strong," Matt Wallace said. “He’s always been there for me and has always helped me with whatever I needed."
Wallace also said that his uncle Kenny will officially make his final start in the Xfinity Series race at Iowa and turn over the key to the track to his nephew. Matt said Kenny will give him a fake key representing the Wallace family tradition of racing.
“All three of them have been a huge influence on me and have never pressured me to race," the younger Wallace said. “My father has always left the decision up to me, whether it was racing or any other kind of sport." David Exum/Independent Tribune