Wallace Racing announces ’08 programs w/Chevy

Officials of Rusty Wallace Racing announced earlier today that the team will field two full-time entries in the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series. Two-time 2007 pole winner, Steve Wallace, will continue full time in the team’s No. 66 car for 2008, while its new No. 64 entry will feature several drivers. NASCAR Cup Series veteran, David Stremme, will pilot the No. 64 in at least 17 2008 events, while 18 year-old Kansas native, Chase Austin, will drive the 64 car in 15 races during the 2008 season. The team plans to put a well-known road racer behind the wheel of the No. 64 for the three Nationwide Series road course events in 2008. Team officials are currently in discussions with several drivers regarding that role and plan to name a driver in the near future.

Noted Rusty Wallace Racing team owner, Rusty Wallace, “Our entire team is thrilled about our prospects for the 2008 season. David Stremme has proven that he can get the job done in the Busch Series and we’re ecstatic to have him on our team. He ran the Michigan ARCA race for us last year and literally lapped the field; we’re looking forward to even more success with him next year," he continued, “Steve (Wallace) has shown a ton of potential and has been really fast many times this season. With a full year of experience under his belt, we’re excited to watch him progress even further. Chase Austin is another talented young driver and we’re planning on putting him through the same program we did with Steve in 2006. In addition to his Nationwide Series races, we’ll run him in at least five ARCA events as well."

In addition to its driver announcement, the team also announced an agreement with General Motors and its Chevrolet nameplate, under which each Rusty Wallace Racing entry will be a Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS in 2008. The move to a GM make is a homecoming of sorts for Rusty Wallace, who seemingly dominated the NASCAR Cup Series in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s from behind the wheel of a GM product. During his GM tenure, from 1984 to 1993, Wallace earned 31 victories, 91 top-five finishes, 150 top-tens and 15 pole positions; his record with GM includes the 1989 Cup Series Championship and a whopping ten-win season in 1993 with Penske Racing.

Noted Rusty Wallace, “This move was a hard decision after all of the great seasons with Dodge. They’ve been great partners for us over the years. The bottom line though, is that Chevrolet is willing to provide us with more resources to make our race cars go faster—that’s what it’s all about. Our passion is winning races; that’s what drives us and we believe that this move is going to help us do that. Some of the best runs of my career came in GM products; this is almost like a homecoming to me."

Providing backing for both teams in the majority of the 2008 events will be Atlanta, GA-based Atreus Homes and Communities. Currently known as HomeLife Communities, the national builder known for affordable dream homes will take on the Atreus name effective January 1, 2008. Team officials plan to announce additional partnerships within several weeks.

Further, in an effort to emphasize Rusty Wallace Racing’s relationship with HomeLife and Atreus Homes, the team announced an arrangement with Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates, under which Stremme’s No. 40 Cup Series car will carry the current HomeLife Communities paint scheme for next weekend’s Cup Series event at Texas Motor Speedway. HomeLife Communities is also featured on the lower rear quarter panels of the No. 40 in today’s event at Atlanta Motor Speedway.