NASCAR icon Kenny Wallace recently shared his unexpected experiences transitioning from the NASCAR circuit to grassroots dirt track racing, revealing the surprising hostility he initially faced from local racers.
Wallace’s shift from NASCAR stardom to local dirt tracks has been far from smooth. After a celebrated 25-year NASCAR career, including appearances in the Xfinity Series and Cup Series, Wallace encountered a harsh reality when he entered the dirt racing scene.
“When you’re a NASCAR driver and you try to race these local guys, they don’t like it,” Wallace said.
The hostility caught him off guard, as many local drivers viewed him as an outsider disrupting their established racing culture. “When I came back here, they hated me. It was a shocking blow that really hurt me,” he admitted.
Coming from a prominent racing family—his brothers Rusty and Mike Wallace are also well-known NASCAR figures—Kenny’s early success seemed natural. Yet, despite his pedigree, earning acceptance in grassroots dirt racing was unexpectedly difficult.
Over time, however, Wallace earned respect from the dirt racing community through his commitment to the sport. By working on his cars himself and showing up independently to races, perceptions began to change. “I’m not complaining. I’m explaining why I work on my cars myself. Now, when I show up at the track alone, they finally see me as a racecar driver,” Wallace explained.
Wallace also reflected on former NASCAR and IndyCar driver Danica Patrick’s comments about the physical challenges of motorsport, particularly for women. He referenced Patrick’s point about the physical toughness required to succeed in racing. “Danica Patrick would agree with you. When she essentially retired, she made a controversial statement—though many agreed with her—that racing is harder for women because it’s so tough. There are races where we come out of the car feeling like a wet noodle,” Wallace noted, emphasizing the sport’s grueling demands.
2025 NASCAR Cup Series Schedule
Regular Season
Feb. 2: Winston-Salem (Clash) – 8 p.m., FOX
Feb. 16: Daytona 500 – 2:30 p.m., FOX
Feb. 23: Atlanta – 3 p.m., FOX
Mar. 2: Austin – 3:30 p.m., FOX
Mar. 9: Phoenix – 3:30 p.m., FS1
Mar. 16: Las Vegas – 3:30 p.m., FS1
Mar. 23: Homestead – 3 p.m., FS1
Mar. 30: Martinsville – 3 p.m., FS1
Apr. 6: Darlington – 3 p.m., FS1
Apr. 13: Bristol – 3 p.m., FS1
Apr. 20: Off (Easter)
Apr. 27: Talladega – 3 p.m., FOX
May 4: Texas – 3:30 p.m., FS1
May 11: Kansas – 3 p.m., FS1
May 18: North Wilkesboro (All-Star) – 8 p.m., FS1
May 25: Charlotte – 6 p.m., Prime Video
June 1: Nashville – 7 p.m., Prime Video
June 8: Michigan – 2 p.m., Prime Video
June 15: Mexico City – 3 p.m., Prime Video
June 22: Pocono – 2 p.m., Prime Video
June 28: Atlanta – 7 p.m., TNT
July 6: Chicago street course – 2 p.m., TNT
July 13: Sonoma – 3:30 p.m., TNT
July 20: Dover – 2 p.m., TNT
July 27: Indianapolis – 2 p.m., TNT
Aug. 3: Iowa – 3:30 p.m., USA
Aug. 10: Watkins Glen – 2 p.m., USA
Aug. 16: Richmond – 7:30 p.m., USA
Aug. 23: Daytona – 7:30 p.m., NBC
Playoffs
Aug. 31: Darlington – 6 p.m., USA
Sept. 7: St. Louis – 3 p.m., USA
Sept. 13: Bristol – 7:30 p.m., USA
Sept. 21: New Hampshire – 2 p.m., USA
Sept. 28: Kansas – 3 p.m., USA
Oct. 5: Charlotte road course – 3 p.m., USA
Oct. 12: Las Vegas – 5:30 p.m., USA
Oct. 19: Talladega – 2 p.m., NBC
Oct. 26: Martinsville – 2 p.m., NBC
Nov. 2: Phoenix – 3 p.m., NBC
