For many fans, NASCAR drivers are nothing short of heroes. Drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr, Jimmie Johnson, Bill Elliott, and Kevin Harvick are not only considered icons in the motorsports world but also figureheads in the sports industry. Many drivers are idolized for their on-track achievements, while others are admired for their contributions to NASCAR after retirement. However, veteran driver Kenny Wallace didn’t enjoy such treatment when he returned to his hometown of St. Louis after achieving success.

Recalling the tough moments he was forced to endure after returning to Missouri, Kenny Wallace spoke candidly to Charlie Marlow about his heartbreaking experience of having to prove himself all over again.

Kenny Wallace reflects on shocking treatment by hometown locals

Kenny Wallace is an iconic figure in NASCAR circles. The 61-year-old began his career by winning his debut race at the Illinois Street Stock State Championship and got his Xfinity Series break in 1988 thanks to Dale Earnhardt Sr. Such was his longevity that his career spanned 25 years. During that time, he competed in 344 Cup Series races and 547 races in NASCAR’s second tier. The former Furniture Row Racing driver now participates in dirt track races across the country and shares his opinions about the latest events in the world of NASCAR through his YouTube channel.

Speaking to Charlie Marlow on his YouTube channel, Kenny Wallace said, “It pissed me off when I moved back to St. Louis to race against my people and they hated me because I was a NASCAR driver. And here I thought I was coming home to be with my friends, and hell, I was even sponsoring people, giving people tires. I was paying forward.” He went on to say, “When I came back home and my people were mean to me. They didn’t like it that I made it. They wanted me to be poor with them. I just couldn’t get over that. It’s shocking.”

Despite making his debut for Dale Earnhardt Inc. in 1988, Wallace began his first full season in the Xfinity Series for his brother Rusty Wallace’s team the following year. He finished 6th in his debut season, earning him the Rookie of the Year award and a spot in the Cup Series for Randy Hope Motorsports. Despite Wallace’s hometown not warming up to him, the driver was a well-liked figure among fans and was awarded the NASCAR Busch Series Most Popular Driver award three times (1991, 1994, and 2006).

While Wallace holds the record for the most Xfinity Series starts, he only has nine wins to his name. He came close to winning the Championship in 1991, finishing the season in 2nd place, just 74 points shy of Bobby Labonte. Throughout his Busch Series career, the driver finished in the top 10 of the standings a staggering ten times, a testament to his consistency over almost two decades. However, despite his best efforts, the Championship eluded him, even though Dale Earnhardt Sr gave him a valuable lesson about the importance of consistency.

Wallace recalls valuable Dale Earnhardt Sr advice

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When ‘The Intimidator’ gives you advice, you listen. Kenny Wallace learned it the hard way during his Busch Series days when he was getting frustrated with consistent second-place finishes. However, a memorable interaction with Dale Earnhardt Sr. changed his outlook, and that’s when he realized the importance of consistency in achieving silverware by the end of the season. While the Championship may have eluded Wallace in his 25-year-long career, Earnhardt’s advice worked, as the legendary driver went on to win the Cup Series a record seven times.

Recalling his conversation with Dale Earnhardt Sr., Wallace said, “I’m doing the old, ‘Uh, I hate second. I can’t believe I run second’ — which in reality is a bold-faced lie for anybody… So Earnhardt Sr. said this to me, ‘Boy, you take those second places, that will win you a championship’. Like Earnhardt had won some championships maybe winning two, four races a year. Second-places, the guy in front of you, he only gained a couple of points on you. That’s what Earnhardt taught me.”

Dale Sr. and Rusty Wallace played an important role in Kenny Wallace’s career. Both spotted for the driver when he made his debut at Martinsville Speedway in 1988, driving the No. 8 Chevy. The NASCAR veteran has learned from the best in his long career, which is why his advice is so valuable for the future generation of drivers who are learning the ropes in the Truck and Xfinity Series.