The hot NASCAR rumour going around is that Rusty Wallace might come out of retirement and join DEI next season. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images Photo)

He’s considering this huge move because he watched Brett Favre come out of retirement in the NFL and his good friend Mark Martin is giving it another shot next year at Hendrick. If Mark had quit, Rusty would have been comfortable with his retirement. But watching Mark, who is a couple of years younger than my brother, stage this comeback has really tugged on Rusty’s heartstrings.

Rusty has told me numerous times he can outrun half the drivers in the Cup Series and he truly is giving a lot of thought to returning to the track. If he wants to make that commitment, I’ll support him 110-percent. The decision is Rusty’s and his wife Patti’s, but I think the whole possibility is very inspirational and I’m looking forward to his answer.

If he comes back, I think he’ll be a bit surprised by the new car. I predict Rusty will be successful but he’ll be shocked that he won’t have control of the chassis the way he used to. He’ll have an adjustment period because the cars are controlled by engineers, bump-stops and seven-post machines, technology that wasn’t in such great use when he left the sport. There is no doubt Rusty has the talent to run well but he’ll probably be upset he won’t be able to set up the car on his own or tell the team how to do it.

Maybe we’ll know sometime soon if I’m right or not.

Before I go, I’d really like to thank Michael Waltrip for tapping me for the No. 00 car at Talladega this weekend. The car is only 29 points outside the top 35 and my job is to get it back inside the top 35. I’ve got a good record at Talladega and Michael wanted someone with experience to help his organization out. Next to racing my way into the Daytona 500 in February, this is the second-best highlight of my year. Every dog needs a bone once in a while and I want thank Michael for throwing one to me.

The opinions reflected herein are solely those of the above commentator and are not necessarily those of SPEEDtv.com, FOX, NewsCorp, or Speed Channel

Kenny Wallace is the driver of the No. 28 U.S. Border Patrol Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, in which he has amassed nine career wins and 10 pole positions and finished in the top 10 in series points every full season he has competed. He also keeps the mood light and humorous each week as an analyst on NASCAR RaceDay and NASCAR Victory Lane on SPEED. Currently in his 19th year in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, Wallace finished runner-up in the points in 1991 and is one of only four drivers to have won the Most Popular Driver award multiple times. He also has vast experience in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series over a span of 18 years and cites qualifying for and competing in this year’s 50th running of the Daytona 500 to be the highlight of his season. To learn more about Wallace or his Nationwide Series sponsor, please visit KennyWallace.com or BorderPatrol.gov


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