Iowa Speedway Eyes Steve Wallace 2006 NASCAR Busch Series Debut

Newton, IA (March 22, 2006) - Iowa Speedway officials will have their eyes on car number "64" driven by Steve Wallace, son of former NASCAR Champion Rusty Wallace, when he makes his 2006 NASCAR Busch Series debut later this month at Bristol Motor Speedway. Wallace, who toured Iowa earlier this year with his father on behalf of Iowa Speedway, will drive RWI Racing's No. 64 entry in the Sharpie MINI 300 at Bristol, Tennessee. The race will be televised live Saturday, March 25th, at 3:00pm EST on the FX Network and MRN Radio Affiliates.

"I'm very excited about running a Busch car at Bristol," the young Wallace told Iowa Speedway friends this week, "there's no way you couldn't be excited about this. I've raced Bristol three times now and I've won, crashed, and been in contention to win. Bristol's like a second home to me. My dad's won nine races there".

Stan Clement, President of Iowa Speedway, will be among many pulling for Steve in his first NASCAR Busch Series start at Bristol. "His friends and fans here at Iowa Speedway and throughout the Midwest want him to race well at Bristol," Clement said, "and we all hope he has a very successful 2006 season."

Steve and his famous father, of course, have direct ties to Iowa Speedway, a "Rusty Wallace Signature Series Track". In fact, Steve is scheduled to race in the Inaugural ARCA RE/MAX Series 250 at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, October 15, 2006. The race will air live on Speed Channel at 1:30 pm CST. www.iowaspeedway.com 

"There are a lot of reasons I'm excited about racing at Iowa Speedway," Wallace said, "first and foremost, is because my Dad has put a lot of his knowledge and experience into the design of the track, so I know it will be a fun and competitive place to run. From a driver's standpoint, the 7/8th mile configuration is very unique since it is the first of its kind being patterned after Richmond. I know all the drivers will enjoy running there."

Andy Vertrees, Chief Operating Officer at Iowa Speedway, says construction is moving toward completion and the track will be ready for Wallace and other drivers. "We've made a lot of progress this winter with the mild weather, "Vertrees says, " and the track is really starting to take shape. Fans are going to enjoy watching Steve Wallace race this year, at Bristol and elsewhere, and especially here at Iowa Speedway."

Meanwhile, Steve Wallace hopes history - at least part of it - repeats itself at Bristol. In September of 2004, Wallace, then only 17, won the Frito Lay 150 Late Model Race. A month earlier, however, he crashed in a Hooter's Pro Cup race on the same track but was not injured. Can he win in a NASCAR Busch Series car at Bristol? Wallace says, "I feel like the key to Bristol is liking to race there. If you like it, you'll do well. My dad loved it, Dale Earnhardt loved it, Jeff Gordon loves it. The people who go in there and are excited about racing at Bristol seem to be rewarded for it".

Wallace is scheduled to run in 13 NASCAR Busch Series races this year and has already tested ARCA cars in Nashville and Kentucky. Iowa Speedway General Manager Todd Melfi says Steve Wallace's desire to win will make him a fan favorite like his father, Rusty. "We can't wait to welcome Steve Wallace back to Iowa when the racing season gets underway at Iowa Speedway," Melfi says, "it will be worth more than the price of admission to see a Wallace race here in Iowa".