MADISON, Illinois – It has been 13 years since Rusty Wallace retired from racing, but he still can’t walk more than two feet before being stopped by fans for an autograph or pictures.
On hand as the grand marshal for Friday night’s NASCAR K&N Series race at Gateway Motorsports Park, Wallace got reacquainted with the paddock during the Verizon IndyCar Series by visiting the INDYCAR garage area and pit lane prior to final practice for Saturday night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta & Valvoline.
The 1989 NASCAR Cup Series champion grew up in nearby Arnold, Missouri, roughly a 20-minute drive from the 1.25-mile oval. He recalled his days at ESPN as a racing analyst on INDYCAR broadcasts, including back-to-back Indianapolis 500s from 2006 and ’07.
Wallace, now 62, confessed that there was temptation later in his stock car career to try his hand at Indy car racing, though he admitted he wouldn’t have wanted to run at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
“What I kind of wanted to do your shorter tracks and road courses because I like that,” Wallace said.
Wallace’s career included other ties to Indy car racing in addition to his ESPN duties. He was an influential part in the layout and design development of Iowa Speedway, the high-banked short oval that has become a mainstay on the Verizon IndyCar Series schedule since it opened in 2007.
Coupled with the return to the schedule last year of Gateway, Wallace’s home track, has only boosted the excitement level for Indy car racing in its Midwest roots.
“I think that this track here and Iowa really can put a great show on because, since it's a little bit shorter racetrack, I think it can control the speed,” the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Famer said.
“They're not just running 250 mph flying around the racetrack and not passing here. There's going to be some passing going on. Obviously, there is in Iowa. Those two tracks are some of my favorites in this area. Iowa, I put a lot of heart into that track. It took me 16 months to build that and I'm passionate about it.”
Wallace couldn’t stop raving about the effort put in by Gateway officials, led by owner and CEO Curtis Francois, as well as title sponsor Bommarito Automotive Group, headed by company president John Bommarito. Wallace pointed to the multimillion-dollar investment over the past two years repaving the track and pit lane, as well as adding parking and a new access road for fans.
“These two guys are doing a great job building this thing,” Wallace said. “When I first got here, I took a tour (and saw) brand new pavement. That's a big number (of investment cost). Pit road exit, all the parking out back. Now the place has got room to grow and then you're thinking out of the box, too.”
Wallace appreciates the race-day schedule that includes driver autograph sessions and a prerace concert prior to the main event, the 248-lap Verizon IndyCar Series race.
“I like what they're doing, kind of opened that thing up early. I call it a semi-party before the race starts. (You’ve) got to do things different now to attract these fans.”
Tickets to attend Saturday’s “semi-party” and race are available at gatewaymsp.com. Live race coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET Saturday on NBCSN and the Advance Auto Parts INDYCAR Radio Network.