Rusty Wallace Racing

NASCAR_Owner_Infobox
Company Name = Rusty Wallace, Inc.
(d/b/a Rusty Wallace Racing)


Owner(s) Name = Rusty Wallace
Racing Series = Nationwide Series
Championships = 0
Car Number(s) = #64, #66
Driver(s) = David Stremme (#64)
Steve Wallace (#66)
Primary Sponsor(s) = Atreus Homes And Communities Jimmy John's (#64 and #66)
Shop Location = Mooresville, North Carolina
Homepage= [http://www.rwiracing.com Rusty Wallace, Inc.]

Rusty Wallace Racing Incorporated is a NASCAR racing team based in Mooresville, North Carolina, which is near Charlotte. The team is owned by former NASCAR champion and commentator Rusty Wallace.

RWI Racing fields the #66 car in the Nationwide Series, both sharing sponsorship being Atreus Homes and Jimmy Johns. Currently, the 64 is driven by former Sprint Cup driver David Stremme, and the 66 by Wallace's son Steve. RWI also fields African American development driver Chase Austin.

The team made a manufacturer switch to Chevrolet in 2008 after running Dodges its first four full seasons.

Team history

RWI was founded in 1984 as Rusty Wallace's marketing firm. RWI as a race team launched in 2004 with Billy Parker as the driver of the #66 Dodge Intrepid in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, with primary sponsor Duraflame. Parker was scheduled to drive in 17 races, however, after finishing only 4 of 8 races he was released. He was replaced by Jamie McMurray, who won the team's first pole on July 24, 2004 at New Hampshire International Speedway and later won the team's first race at Darlington Raceway on November 13, 2004.

In 2005, RWI ran a full 35 race schedule in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. At the request of Duraflame, who switched to sponsor another team, the Dodge Charger was renumbered #64. McMurray shared driving duties with Wallace's former Penske Racing South teammate Jeremy Mayfield and team owner Rusty Wallace. There were three primary sponsors for the #64 car: Miller High Life Light for Mayfield's 13 races; Top-Flite Golf for McMurray's 16 races; and Bell Helicopters and Miller High Life Light for Rusty's 6 races. A second car, #61, was entered with driver Steve Wallace, Rusty's youngest son, at Memphis Motorsports Park on October 23, 2005.

In 2006, McMurray and Steve continued to split driver duties in the #64 Dodge Charger.Top-Flite Golf remained the primary sponsor during McMurray's 20 races, while the Jackson Roscoe Foundation was primary sponsor for most of Steve's 17 races. The team's second car, #61, was driven twice in 2006, both times with Steve at the wheel.

2006 also saw RWI field the #61 Dodge in 9 ARCA RE/MAX Series races, with primary sponsors Nu South Lemonade and Hantz Group. Steve Wallace won 3 races (Kentucky, Chicagoland, and Iowa) and David Stremme won the race at Michigan International Speedway on June 16, 2006 by a lap. In 2007, Steve Wallace was named the full-time driver of the newly-renumbered 66, with Homelife Communities becoming a primary sponsor. Wallace won two poles but finished 19th in points.

The 2008 season will see major changes to the organization. While Steven will again campaign for the Nationwide Series title, RWI will also run the #64 full time, going for the owner's championship, with former NEXTEL Cup driver David Stremme and Max Papis sharing the driving duties. The team will also switch manufacturers to Chevrolet. Chase Austin remained onboard as a development driver until September of that season.

External links

* [http://www.rwiracing.com Rusty Wallace, Inc. Racing Homepage]
* [http://www.homelifecommunities.com HomeLife Communities Homepage]