Gateway International Raceway has been counting down the days to the Nationwide Series Missouri-Illinois Dealers 250 on Saturday at Gateway by looking back at past series events at the track in Madison, Ill.

Today’s installment is about the Wallace Family Tribute 250 …

Sorenson Shines as GIR Honors STL’s First Family of Racing

By Josh Weinrich

The Wallace brothers-Rusty, Mike, and Kenny-have long been considered the first family of racing in St. Louis and one of the most successful names in NASCAR. The family has always been an integral of St. Louis motorsports and popular with area race fans. On July 30, 2005, in conjunction with the NASCAR Nationwide (formerly Busch) Series’ ninth year of racing at Gateway International Raceway, the three Wallaces, along with father Russ and mother Judy, were honored by having the event named after them, the Wallace Family Tribute 250.

Rusty Wallace was in his final year of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition after 22 years of racing full time. During his 706 starts, he captured 55 victories and won the 1989 then-Winston Cup Series Championship. Rusty had never competed at GIR, but his “Last Call” tour gave St. Louis race fans an opportunity to see their hero race in his hometown in a major NASCAR race for the first and only time.

Mike Wallace was not running a full time schedule in 2005, but had the opportunity to drive some of the most high-profile cars in the series. Mike drove for his brother Rusty twice and Brad Akins for five races in early fall. For the 22nd event of the season at Gateway, Mike found himself in one of the best positions he had ever been in at GIR: behind the wheel of an Evernham Motorsports Dodge.

Kenny Wallace started off the 2005 season with championship aspirations, as he found himself in one of the best situations of his career to win a championship. Wallace was in his first year driving a Ford for Greg Pollex, a championship-winning Nationwide Series owner. Kenny came into Gateway sitting fifth in series points and still had a shot at the title.

The largest crowd in the nine-year history of GIR, more than 60,000 people, was on hand. In qualifying, defending GIR winner and series champion, Martin Truex Jr., spoiled the Wallace party by sitting on his second consecutive GIR pole with yet another new track record.

Truex led early in the race and a repeat performance from 2004 was on the minds of many. Unfortunately, the New Jersey native succumbed to a flat tire and relinquished the lead, falling a lap down. David Stremme, Michael Waltrip, Reed Sorenson, and crowd favorite Rusty Wallace all paced the field in the middle portion of the race. The bid for a storybook ending for the eldest Wallace was dashed when he was involved in an accident in turn four just past the halfway point. Rusty finished in the 37th position.

Point leader Martin Truex Jr. recovered from his flat tire due in large part to quick pit work by his team on the final pit stop. Truex reclaimed the lead and began to assert himself as the car to beat. However, with 33 laps to go, Truex was haunted by more tire issues, this time a loose wheel, ending his chance for a repeat victory and handing the lead to rookie Reed Sorenson. Sorenson went on to lead the final 33 laps for a total of 60 laps led and scored his second-career win. Sorenson’s win was the first for Dodge in the Nationwide Series at GIR and the third series win for owner Chip Ganassi.

Mike Wallace carried the banner for his family, finishing second in the Ragu Dodge. Kenny Wallace lost ground in the championship standings after finishing 24th. The finish kept Wallace in fifth position in points and saw championship leader Martin Truex Jr’s lead shrink to 70 points over second-place Clint Bowyer, who finished 8th.

With paying tribute to the Wallace family and Rusty in his final year of competition, not only did GIR see a record near-capacity crowd, but the race garnered the highest television ratings for a Nationwide Series event at Gateway.

There will be three Wallaces in this year’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Gateway International Raceway-Kenny, Mike, and Steve-for the Missouri-Illinois Dodge Dealers 250. For ticket information, call 866-35-SPEED or visit GatewayRaceway.com.

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