Wallace's World

NASCAR's Kenny Wallace stops in Slayton as part of USMTS charity event

By David Griswold

SLAYTON - There was an electric atmosphere in Slayton Wednesday night as the United States Modified Touring Series came to Murray County Speedway.

Traveling along with the USMTS is NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace, who will race in 13 modified races throughout the season on the tour.

"It's like being on vacation," Wallace said. "I'll go to Indianapolis (tonight) and I will take off my dirt clothes and put them in a bag and I pull out my asphalt stuff where everything is all real clean. Instead of going home and sitting on the couch, I go dirt racing. It's a lot of fun."

Wallace's competition has been tough throughout the series as he has had to face off against a tough field, including defending USMTS national champion Jason Krohn, who was racing in his hometown Wednesday night.

"Kenny comes from a racing family and it's dirt track where he was born and raised (St. Louis, Miss.)," said MCS Racing Director Brian Postma. "But we've got the national champion sitting in our backyard."

"Last year was my first year with USMTS," Wallace said. "We ran about four races, and to me, this is the most hardcore modified racing series in the United States."

Along with Krohn, Kelly Shyrock and Jason Hughes have made an impact on the track.

"Those three guys are almost unbeatable," Wallace said. "They run about 80 to 100 races a year."

Wallace runs in about 40 races a year on all different levels and tracks, so he can still hold his own regardless of his inexperience on the dirt track.

"This is only my third year on dirt so I'm still learning and getting better," said Wallace. "This is my hobby, but I come to win. I've got a lot of money invested into my cars."

Wallace may have the edge on asphalt, but dirt tracks are a different game.

"Dirt is totally different than asphalt," said Wallace. "With asphalt, the handling is very meticulous and everything is within thousandths. Dirt can be meticulous when the track gets very dry and slick, but in asphalt racing - aerodynamics, horsepower - everything is multiplied by 10. It is much more precise."

The dirt tracks also provide a different atmosphere. The USMTS doesn't carry the glamour and the hype that some of the races Wallace has been in, but the nerves and the desire to win remain the same.

"Anybody that tells you they don't get butterflies is crazy," Wallace said. "We get butterflies at every track we go to, and when you quit getting butterflies you probably shouldn't be racing anymore."

While racing with the USMTS, Wallace is also raising money to support the Victory Junction Gang Camp in what is called "A Night of Victory."

"The Victory Junction Gang Camp helps terminally ill children," Wallace said. "It helps them live a quality life whether its horseback riding, swimming or basketball. It's really a good thing."

On Wednesday, fans paid for a ticket for a charity event called "Hanging with Herman," which provided a meal, grandstand seats to watch racing and the opportunity to meet with Wallace. Wallace also gave a speech to those in attendance.

There is also a silent auction at each venue that features multiple NASCAR prizes and travel vacations. All the money raised from ticket sales and from the silent auction go directly to the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

The night also sparked attendance numbers at MCS, which has been somewhat down this year.

"This is major for Murray County," said Postma. "Kenny's been on the NASCAR circuit and in the Dirt Track world for years and now we have him in our backyard. We got a lot of sponsors supporting us from all around and along Murray County."

Over 150 people of all ages attended the "Hanging with Herman" session at the Murray County Fairgrounds' 4-H building, most of whom took advantage of the opportunity to meet and greet one of NASCAR's own.

"I've been a racing fan for four years," said 11-year-old racing fan Brandon Bortnem. "I come out (to MCS) just about every Friday - I'm pretty excited to see (Wallace) race."

"I watch (racing) with my mom and my brother all the time," said 11-year-old Lexy Bengtson. "I was shocked at first (when I met Wallace), but it was pretty cool."

The turnout gives hope to Postma and the MCS to continue to attract fans throughout the season to allow MCS to continue to grow, even after the additions to the track this year.

"Hopefully it will help us expand and to keep updating our track," Postma said. "We just take it one step at a time and this is kind of another feather in our hat."