Every NASCAR driver has a unique background. For the legends, these backstories can be wild as well. One such legend is Rusty Wallace who ranks as eighth all-time, holding 55 Cup race victories. In 1989, he won the Cup Series championship with a 12-point margin over Dale Earnhardt, another legend. The two rivals had one thing in common – they both sported special fashion statements.

Earnhardt was known for his signature bushy mustache, prominent beneath a pair of large sunglasses. People hailed the Intimidator with that look – similarly, Rusty Wallace had his own hairdo. That apparently gave him the drive to do things with a little more passion, as his close colleague reveals.

Rusty Wallace wanted to work in his own style

Starting out humbly in his father Russ Wallace’s household, Rusty Wallace was always focused on racing. He and his two brothers Mike and Kenny picked up after Russ’ passion for cars. Doing day jobs at their Uncle Gary’s janitorial supply business ‘Okay Vacuum and Janitorial’ was hardly a factor in stopping them from pursuing their dreams. With this spirit in mind, Rusty also had a special approach to how he would work at the racetrack. His old friend, and owner of Tri-City Speedway, Kevin Gundaker shared some feisty stories, that even Rusty’s brother Kenny did not know about.

Appearing on Kenny Wallace’s popular YouTube channel, the racetrack owner Gundaker said Rusty Wallace was particular about his hairstyle. And he gave envious looks to Gundaker for naturally getting the hair he wanted. “Rusty had to have his done – that’s what made him mad. Mine naturally grew like that. And he always tried to keep this ‘fro going, and he was like, ‘Gunder, how does your hair grow like that?’… It was a great thing between him and I about that hair.”

Kevin Gundaker and Rusty Wallace built the famous Gator Chassis ‘Nothing bites like a Gator.’ They had an adventurous time in NASCAR, about which Gundaker told his partner’s brother. “We were working at the Sunoco station… on Manchester Road at the time. Rusty and I… we had more fun ’cause we ran the tow truck together… We had a great time together. You know, most people don’t realize back then, Rusty and Kenny Schrader and I – we all kind of ran around together. Back in the day, some of us chased the same women and everything… It wasn’t like we fought over them, we had a great relationship growing up.”

Similarly, Rusty Wallace also has a great relationship with his brother Kenny despite their disparity.

Brothers on and off the racetrack

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The Wallace family is a hallowed name in NASCAR circles. However, there are fine lines of disparity inside the household. Rusty Wallace is a legendary driver. Not only did he snuggle with the likes of Dale Earnhardt, but he also helped Roger Penske win 37 times in the Cup. In comparison, his brother Kenny Wallace was not blessed with the same talent. The latter clinched nine wins and 66 top-five finishes in 547 starts in the Xfinity Series. His career’s high point was falling just short of Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte for the 1991 championship. Yet despite this large disparity, the two brothers shared a blooming relationship.

Kenny Wallace started 904 races across the series in NASCAR. That is an amazing stat for him – “To me, that’s like an out-of-body experience, like how the hell did I do that?” He further admitted in 2021 that he did not let his brother Rusty Wallace’s success get to him. “There were plenty of jokes made about how better Rusty was than me and (middle brother) Mike,” Kenny said. “It hurt like hell when they did it, but the older I got, it’s true and it’s funny. I remember one joke where someone once said, ‘Mike and Kenny sit in the back seat while Rusty drives’… Rusty Wallace is damn good and he’s a Hall of Famer and he’s my brother and I love him. I’m so proud of him.”

Rusty Wallace’s legacy keeps making an impact on the people around him. And the funny insider stories make it evergreen.