NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace reflected on why he always believed North Wilkesboro Speedway deserved a permanent place on the Cup schedule, while also admitting he might be a little biased due to his own success there. The North Carolina track will host its first points-paying race in 30 years on July 19.
The 0.625-mile short track last staged a points race in September 1996 before its revival in 2023. After three seasons of the NASCAR All-Star Race, Sunday’s Window World 450 marks another milestone in the speedway’s comeback and is expected to draw a sold-out crowd for the first Cup race there in three decades.
Thanks for the submission!
For Wallace, the return carries special meaning. The 1989 Cup Series champion was one of the track’s standout performers during its original run, making 26 starts at North Wilkesboro and compiling three victories, 21 top-10 finishes, a 9.6 average finish and 685 laps led. Speaking to The Charlotte Observer, he admitted that history shapes his opinion, but insisted the circuit has earned its place back:
“The amount of money and effort and how popular that area is for racing, where it started. I wanted it to be a points-paying race,” Wallace said.
Although he appreciated North Wilkesboro’s role as the home of the All-Star Race, Rusty Wallace felt the venue belonged in the NASCAR Cup Series.
“And look, I was just so appreciative that it was able to come back and be an All-Star Race. That’s unreal. And if it had to stay that way, it’d be great. But I wanted it to be on the schedule. I wanted it to be one of the main, decision-making racetracks. I mean, now it’s all repaved, and they’ve done everything they’ve done. It deserves a Cup race… I think it’s worthy of it.”
The Hall of Famer admitted to a second bias when asked who he expects to win Sunday’s race.
“I’m gonna say the 2 car.”
Rusty Wallace drove the iconic No. 2 Team Penske Pontiac to two of his three North Wilkesboro victories after claiming his first win there with Blue Max Racing. His success in Roger Penske’s flagship entry remains closely associated with both the driver and the historic short track.
Austin Cindric honors Rusty Wallace with North Wilkesboro throwback
Rusty Wallace’s connection to the No. 2 car will also be visible on Sunday as Austin Cindric races a special Freightliner Ford Mustang inspired by Wallace’s famous black-and-gold 1993 paint scheme. The design celebrates Team Penske’s 60th anniversary while honoring one of the drivers who helped establish the organization’s NASCAR legacy.
The tribute comes at an appropriate time, with North Wilkesboro returning to the points schedule. Wallace swept both Cup races at the track in 1993, driving the No. 2, one of 10 victories he earned that season. Cindric said Wallace was excited after seeing the scheme.
“I think when you think of the No. 2 car, you think of Rusty Wallace. That’s the first thing you think of. And obviously it’s the car, the team, the driver that really built Team Penske’s NASCAR program into what it is today,” Cindric told NASCAR.com.
“Actually talked to him. He’s all excited about how much he loved that car. Like, ‘Oh man, that’s a bada*s car!’ Like, all right, good, we’re gonna run it again. So, it was cool to talk to him about that, and I think it’s gonna be great to have it out there, and most importantly, do my part in representing those colors well.”
Beyond recreating Rusty Wallace‘s colors, the throwback scheme gives special recognition to four current Team Penske employees. Dave Munari, Mike Wingate, Gary Brooks, and Jeffrey Thousand worked on Wallace’s 1993 campaign and remain with the organization today.
Edited by Anurup Chakraborty