Kenny Wallace Reminisces Dale Earnhardt and Rusty Wallace’s Incomparable Good Old NASCAR Days

NASCAR has come a long way from its heyday. Live crowds aren’t what they used to be, and the larger-than-life personalities that once defined the sport are rare these days. But back in the 1980s and ’90s, the scene was electric, fueled by superstars like Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Rusty Wallace. It was a golden era, when drivers weren’t just competitors—they were cultural icons, bigger than the sport itself.

Few people know those days better than Kenny Wallace. A NASCAR veteran and consummate storyteller, Wallace recently shared vivid memories of what it was like to live and race during that time. From police escorts for Dale Sr. to private concerts with country music royalty, Wallace’s tales bring the magic of NASCAR’s glory days roaring back to life.

The superstars bigger than NASCAR

For the uninitiated, Dale Earnhardt Sr. wasn’t just a NASCAR legend—he was a cultural icon. The “Intimidator” earned seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, 76 career wins, and the undying loyalty of fans who worshipped his no-nonsense racing style and larger-than-life personality. Rusty Wallace, while not as towering a figure as Earnhardt, was a fierce competitor in his own right, amassing 55 career victories, a Cup Series championship in 1989, and a reputation for being one of the sport’s best short-track racers. Together, these two drivers helped define NASCAR’s golden era.

For Kenny Wallace, who spent years in their orbit, the memories of their fame and antics remain some of the most vivid of his career.

“Man, those days were so magical,” Wallace began in a recent YouTube video. “I mean, it was Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt Senior.” He paused, as if reliving the moment. “Whenever Dale Sr. would leave his motorhome to head to the garage [at the Brickyard], he had to have like two police escorts because people were literally hanging on the fence and screaming. Those days were magical. It was so big. These guys were like Elvis Presley. They were superstars.”

Wallace’s stories paint a vivid picture of the awe surrounding NASCAR’s biggest names. He recalled one night at a NASCAR awards ceremony in New York City. “I was a lucky man because they always liked me. Me and my wife were up there celebrating the year, and all of a sudden, Dale Sr. and Rusty invite me and Kim to this place. New York is strange—you open a door, and suddenly you’re in this big venue. And there we are, with Brooks and Dunn performing a mini-concert for maybe 50 of us. It wasn’t even a real concert—it was just us, Dale, Rusty, Teresa [Earnhardt], me, Kim…50 people. I mean, Brooks and Dunn!”

The power and influence of Dale Earnhardt Sr. during those years is something Wallace still marvels at. “Dale Sr. was bigger than NASCAR. You know there’s that old saying, ‘You’re never bigger than the sport,’ but I’ll tell you right now, Dale Sr. could’ve gone on TV and told everyone to stay home, and they would’ve. He was that big.”

Wallace’s memories of the Southern 500 highlight the extravagance and delirium of that era. “After the Southern 500, Kim and I were flying with Rusty in his helicopter to get back to Charlotte. Back then, Rusty had a Learjet and a helicopter—buddy, we were printing money in those days. There was so much money in NASCAR, you could buy anything you wanted.”

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Wallace described a chaotic scene as fans rushed toward them.

Helicopters, drunk fans, and the Race of Champions

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“There was this one drunk girl—she was having a good time. She yelled, ‘Kenny, sign my phone!’ And she rips her phone out of her pants, presses herself against the chain-link fence, and sticks her phone through. I looked at Kim, and she just said, ‘Go ahead.’ So, of course, I had my Sharpie—I always carry a Sharpie—and I signed her phone as best as I could. I mean, those were the days!”

Wallace also reflected on the Race of Champions events, a series of showcase races that brought NASCAR drivers to packed tracks around the country. “We’d fly into these tracks—Dale Sr., Rusty, Sterling Marlin, Mikey Waltrip, me, and a few others—and the place would be packed. I mean, these fans had never seen anything like it. The track would pay $60,000 for the event, and of course, Dale and Rusty would get the big money. But I didn’t care—I was happy to get whatever they gave me!”

The goal of the Race of Champions wasn’t to win, but to entertain. “We’d put on our fire suits in the motorhomes and say, ‘Whoever gets out front, don’t run away. Look in your mirror. If you’ve got a better car, go high and let someone pass.’ We put on a hell of a show. The autograph sessions at those tracks were insane—it felt like we were rock stars.”

As Wallace looks back on those moments, he marvels at the sheer magic of it all. “Those were the days. I lay in bed sometimes and think, ‘Who’s still alive that witnessed those days with me?’ Rusty, Mikey Waltrip… not many people left. It’s hard to believe.”

NASCAR may never return to the glitz and larger-than-life personalities of that era, but Wallace’s stories serve as a reminder of just how electrifying the sport once was. For a time, drivers like Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Rusty Wallace weren’t just racers—they were icons who could pack a venue, command police escorts, and create moments that fans and fellow drivers will never forget.