Driver-turned-TV representative Wallace has always been unapologetically authentic. In a career that spans both racing and broadcasting, Wallace became a household name with his show. As a TV presenter, he often exposes the behind-the-scenes drama involved in the sport. This time around, he has another story for fans.

He recently exposed his former employer for shutting one of the most famous NASCAR TV shows NASCAR RaceDay. Wallace lifted the curtain on why the beloved RaceDay shut down, revealing the greedy motives behind the decision and exposing his former employer.

Kenny Wallace exposes NASCAR’s media partner

The early 2000s witnessed some significant changes in NASCAR. From broadcasting to sponsorships and race formats to points, almost the majority of things were changed. However, what remained constant and a fan favorite was the NASCAR RaceDay show. Fans were left shocked when the show was taken off air. Now, years later, one host of the show, Kenny Wallace, has revealed the key details of the decision.

Kenny shared the details of his conversation with the Fox network president when he revealed his plans. On the latest episode of Coffee with Kenny, he said, “Eric Shanks, the president, walked right up to me and he was very sad, and he said ‘Kenny, I’m sorry. I did not want to get rid of NASCAR Race Day, but we had to because we’re starting the new FS1.’ So, they k—-d it because they wanted to start a new network, Fox Sports One.” Notably, NASCAR’s rise in popularity during the early 2000s attracted significant media attention. Meanwhile, other sports like soccer and the NBA were also growing significantly. Fox, seeking to expand its reach beyond motorsports, rebranded the Speed channel into FS1. Despite its success, a strategic decision to fight against growing competition ended the iconic RaceDay show in 2013.

However, this was not the only reason for the closure of this show. According to Kenny, high production cost was also one reason. “Well, another reason was this: it cost $800,000 per show to operate it. So, you say why did it cost that much money? Well, satellite time was not expensive back in those days, but we had big stages. We had a big, screened TV set up outside a lot of employees and when you put it all together, it just cost a lot of money.”

It’s worth noting that the NASCAR RaceDay show used to run for two hours before the races. The show actively involved the audience and many experts, driving up its production costs. So, despite its success, the show’s enormous production costs became an easy target during the transition. However, Kenny, who used to host the show, revealed that he didn’t mind its closure. “I wanted to be known as a race car driver because I love racing. I love racing cars. So, it bothered me when people told me how good I was on TV. I wanted to be talked about as a race car driver, so it didn’t bother me that much (the shutdown).”

To understand Kenny Wallace’s perspective, one must consider his racing career. With 344 starts in the Cup Series, Wallace secured six top-five finishes and 27 top-ten finishes. While he never claimed a win in the Cup Series, his consistency earned him respect. His Xfinity Series career was more decorated, with nine wins, 66 top-five finishes, and 173 top-ten finishes across 547 starts.

Despite transitioning into the other side of the sport, Kenny remained a racer first. His love for the sport and competitive spirit defined his career. Recently, Kenny expressed anger when a journalist called his brother’s NASCAR comeback controversial. Notably, Kenny’s 65-year-old brother, Mike Wallace, plans to return to the NASCAR Cup Series after a decade.

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Kenny Wallace comes to defend his brother

The 65-year-old Mike Wallace made his NASCAR debut in 1991. Since then, he has been one of the most consistent participants in the series. He last made his NASCAR Cup Series appearance at Daytona 500 in 2015. Now, after a decade, Mike will make a comeback to MBM Motorsports at the prestigious event. He will try to qualify for the race by winning one of the four open charter seats.

However, some people criticized his decision and termed it controversial. Sports journalist Nick Bromberg questioned his eligibility as he said, “I’m sure this will be controversial. But a 65-year-old who hasn’t competed in a Cup Series race or a top 3 series NASCAR race on an oval since 2015 and last raced in a top 3 series NASCAR race overall in 2020 probably shouldn’t get automatic approval to attempt the Daytona 500.”

These comments didn’t go well with Kenny Wallace as he came in to defend his brother. He accused him of spreading negativity while responding to him. “Would not expect anything less out of you, Nick. You’ve always been a negative reporter,” Kenny replied on social media platform X. Notably, Mike had previously revealed that this opportunity serves as a refreshing point for him and his kids, who are recovering from the death of his wife. He will drive the No.66 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for MBM Motorsports.