Rusty Wallace

1989 NASCAR Winston Cup Series Champion

Born: August 14, 1956
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
The File: The 1989 NASCAR champion entered the 2001 season ranked third among active drivers in victories. Also placed second in the final 1988 and 1993 NASCAR Winston Cup standings. Finished in the top five seven times. Considered one of the top road racers and short-track drivers among the present crop of drivers. Won races in 15 straight seasons. Paced the tour with 10 wins in 1993 and 8 in 1994.

It was only natural that Rusty Wallace and brothers Mike and Kenny became race car drivers.

There father was a three-time track champion in Missouri.

"He gave me an appreciation of cars and racing," remembered Rusty. "I used to love going to the track. I'm another of these racers who grew up around cars and doing odd jobs for my dad.

"My two loves are racing and flying. And through racing, I've been able to do both."

Wallace's career has come full circle. He made his NASCAR Winston Cup debut for car owner Roger Penske in 1980, finishing second at Atlanta in his first start.

Although his only NASCAR Winston Cup title came while driving for former drag racer Raymond Beadle in 1989 - a year after finishing second to Bill Elliott in the sixth-closest finish in history - more than half of Wallace's victories have come since rejoining Penske in 1991.

"Roger and I see racing the same way," said Wallace. "This is a profession and everything must be done to professional standards."

Professional is the perfect way to describe Rusty Wallace's three-decade NASCAR Winston Cup career.

"Rusty has taught me a lot about how you drive a race car," said Jeremy Mayfield. "There's a difference between driving a car and driving a race. And Rusty knows the difference."