If you ask Kenny Wallace, a seasoned NASCAR driver, what it feels like to be second, he’ll serve you a tale as steamy as his cup of java. But it wasn’t always this way. Wallace remembers a night at Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s famed Deer Head shop in Mooresville that changed his entire outlook on the dreaded runner-up position. Who knew that a second could taste as sweet as a victory lap?
In a surprising turn of events, veteran NASCAR racer Kenny Wallace shed light on a profound life lesson from the legendary Dale “The Intimidator” Earnhardt. It wasn’t about crossing the finish line first; it was about embracing second place.
Earnhardt’s Impact on Kenny’s Career
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In a candid Twitter video, Wallace recounted the action-packed weekend that started in Brownstown, Illinois, zoomed through Bristol, and ended back in Quincy. While he admitted to a “hell of a show” at Bristol, he particularly celebrated the side-by-side nail-biting battle with racers Trevor Neville and Austen Becerra.
“Man, it was a hell of a race. So, my 13th-second-place finish of the year Dale Sr. told me one time, Boy, you don’t complain about their second-place finishes. They’ll win you a championship.” Wallace stated.
He further added, “So, we’re excited to have won the Missouri-Illinois Region Championship. That’s a total of eight race tracks. And we had a side-by-side battle with Trevor Neville and Austen Becerra for the win. We finished second tonight.”
UPDATE;
Our racing weekend 😁 pic.twitter.com/DsW0wBp4BT— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) September 18, 2023
Wallace, visibly thrilled, summed up the vibe, expressing gratitude and excitement for the upcoming races at Tri-City Speedway in Granite City, Illinois. With the year coming to a close, the Modified Mania event is sure to see some thrilling action.
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But this is not the first time Wallace has shared “The Intimidator’s” advice with NASCAR fans.
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Kenny Wallace’s Tribute to Dale Earnhardt
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Wallace, reminiscing on his career highlights over a steamy cup of coffee in his podcast, recalled a deeply touching moment after a second-place finish. “I was pouring out my frustrations, ranting about how much second sucks’,” chuckled Wallace. But who better to offer perspective than the seven-time NASCAR Cup champion himself, Dale Earnhardt
While the two shared a close bond, it was during a dinner at Earnhardt’s renowned Deer Head shop in Mooresville that things took a reflective turn. Earnhardt, never one to mince words, stared Wallace down and said, “Boy, you keep taking those second-place finishes.” A piece of advice that resonated, considering it came from the Intimidator, the man with a formidable presence in the racing circuit.
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The result? Kenny Wallace, fortified with a new outlook, ran over 900 races as a full-time NASCAR driver. It’s a testament to the fact that sometimes, advice from a legend can be the catalyst for greatness.