[tkj24]

Rusty Wallace told ESPN on Monday that he turned down an offer to drive for Richard Childress Racing next year.

Wallace


"I'm retired and am a broadcaster now," the ESPN motorsports analyst said.
Foxsports.com reported Monday that Wallace "still has the bug" and that Richard Childress Racing was interested in hiring him to drive for the team in 2008.
Wallace, who retired from racing in 2005, joined ESPN as a racing analyst in 2006.
He won 55 Cup races in his 22-year career and was the Winston Cup series champion in 1989.

[LSC9901]

I hate to sound repetitive but his age is against him. He will be 51 tomorrow (8/14) He left when his career was starting to go downhill. He left a good team. Why on earth come back and prove that you are too old for the game ? Aren't there enough others out there doing it already ??

[3fanforever]

Not only his age, but I think his plate is pretty full anyway, between broadcasting for ESPN and running RWI.
Seems like getting back into a hot rod for anybody would be a distraction to him right now, even as much as he likes to do it.
I get the impression watching him these days, he's pretty happy doing what he's doing.

[PettyBlue]

Originally Posted by 3fanforever

I get the impression watching him these days, he's pretty happy doing what he's doing.

If he could only do it well,lol.

[wingkey1]

Duck (as in "Racer") - load the cigar and best sippin' stuff - actually yer likely to find the following in the range of normal (?) conciousness

Rusty gave a number of long time fans (of NASCAR) the opportunity to ride a love/not like (we don't spend time in "hate" around here) feeling/relationnship with and about him. I took the ride and enjoyed it. Times we felt "go Rusty", times we felt "whiner", times we gave thanks, time we wanted to show him the door. In the end, he was good here, and seen here as good for the (motor)sports.

Observation: When Earnhardt was killed, something in Rusty died. Mortality became real. He hurt, he feared, caution came more to the front. He needs now, if he is to do it (race) at all, to do it at the "no pressure" level. Do the dirt with Tony and the boys. Go-kart with Jr., but leave the "perform or be dismissed" alone. You've dismissed yourself and that is in whom hands it should be.

Many express interest/concern/observation around Rusty's feelings about Stephens on track performance. Much of what is observed and commented upon is focused around what is felt to be his (Rustys') feelings on Stephens' racing successes and failures. Few seem to be able to grasp/express what it is he is likely wrestling with around the mortality thing. He has seen and felt the Adam event. That's where the real story and appreciation lay.

[Quality88]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

Observation: When Earnhardt was killed, something in Rusty died.

Rusty said that before..... I think he even said it on 'Behind the Glory'. He admitted it. Dale was his biggest competitor, and he even said he measured himself against Dale.

[thunderfoot]

Rusty needs to stay away from getting behind the wheel. Unless its a nostalgia race or a local saturday night show and he is out for having just some plain old fashioned fun. No harm there. Once your used up there is no point in taking up a starting spot that could go to a young riseing driver.

[Racer Duck]

Originally Posted by wingkey1

Duck (as in "Racer") - load the cigar and best sippin' stuff - actually yer likely to find the following in the range of normal (?) conciousness

Rusty gave a number of long time fans (of NASCAR) the opportunity to ride a love/not like (we don't spend time in "hate" around here) feeling/relationnship with and about him. I took the ride and enjoyed it. Times we felt "go Rusty", times we felt "whiner", times we gave thanks, time we wanted to show him the door. In the end, he was good here, and seen here as good for the (motor)sports.

Observation: When Earnhardt was killed, something in Rusty died. Mortality became real. He hurt, he feared, caution came more to the front. He needs now, if he is to do it (race) at all, to do it at the "no pressure" level. Do the dirt with Tony and the boys. Go-kart with Jr., but leave the "perform or be dismissed" alone. You've dismissed yourself and that is in whom hands it should be.

Many express interest/concern/observation around Rusty's feelings about Stephens on track performance. Much of what is observed and commented upon is focused around what is felt to be his (Rustys') feelings on Stephens' racing successes and failures. Few seem to be able to grasp/express what it is he is likely wrestling with around the mortality thing. He has seen and felt the Adam event. That's where the real story and appreciation lay.

Wing, read it, slept on it, read it again.

I'm disappointed .. only 2 and a snooze .. makes perfect sense. you're wrong, it's (ab)normal.

Rusty's a dad .. trying not to act like one .. most times succeeds .. most times son flops (i.e., impact with solid objects) .. pains him but he stays up .. sorta .. before he could show .. now only watch .. getting old .. and slow.

[Nevadastars]

Originally Posted by Quality88

Rusty said that before..... I think he even said it on 'Behind the Glory'. He admitted it. Dale was his biggest competitor, and he even said he measured himself against Dale.

Not to mention they were VERY close friends as well.

[tkj24]

Originally Posted by Nevadastars

Not to mention they were VERY close friends as well.

Except in 1995 when Rusty threw the water bottle at Earnhardt after the Bristol race and told him he would see him at Darlington next week and he didn't mean to go to dinner.





Dale Earnhardt: Rear View Mirror Limited Edition - Google Book Search