Mike Wallace takes 5th in Talladega
ARCA Race; Sets up for busy weekend
Talladega, Ala. (October 6, 2006) - Mike Wallace started
a busy weekend at Talladega when he began the ARCA race in the
#09 Miccosukee Gaming Dodge. In addition to the ARCA race, Wallace
will be driving in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and
NASCAR Nextel Cup races this weekend.
Wallace started the race in typical Mike Wallace
restrictor-plate fashion by quickly moving into 5th position
by the time the first caution flew on lap 3. Once
the green flag dropped following the caution, Wallace found
himself in 2nd position by lap 8. Mike held
a drafting clinic for many first-time Talladega Drivers, including
the much publicized rookie and former Indy 500 winner Jaun Montoya.
On lap 19, Wallace took the lead before the third caution
of the race came out on lap 21 with Wallace up front. The
race restarted on lap 26 and he led the race for another 15 laps
before he surrendered the lead to his nephew, Steven Wallace.
A few laps later, Wallace was back in the lead before
surrendering the lead with a flat left rear tire. Mike restarted
in the back with 24 laps to go. However, Mike never
spends much time in the back at Talladega and today was no exception,
as 4 laps later he had moved from the back of the field to
the 7th position. Mike then found a friend and drafting
partner in the #46 of Frank Kimmel, the Arca Remax point leader. He
shoved Kimmel right to first place just before the “big
one” happened just behind the leaders.
The track clean-up took the rest of the race as the sun set
on Mike’s chances for a win and the race was called early
on account of darkness. It was a great race for Wallace
and the #09 team as they ran well all day and led the most
laps.
Mike Wallace was the highest qualified Chevrolet driver
and will be starting from the 15th position for the NASCAR
Craftsman Truck Series race on Saturday in the #15 GEICO Chevrolet. The
John Deere 250 will be broadcast live on SPEED and is scheduled
for a 3:15 p.m. EDT start.
Wallace will qualify his #09 Nextel Cup Series car on Saturday
at 12:10 p.m. EDT. Nextel Cup qualifying
will be broadcast live on SPEED.
