CONCORD, N.C. — Nick Hoffman and Kenny Wallace have traveled a similar path in life.
So much so, that Wallace often jokes with Hoffman that he “sees himself” in the 33-year-old driver based out of North Carolina.
Both racers were born and raised in St. Louis, Mo., and both ultimately left Missouri and moved south to Charlotte, N.C., to purse their NASCAR dreams at a young age.
“I moved down here when I was 10 and wanted to go NASCAR racing,” Hoffman explained. “I was able to go all the way to the Truck Series and ran some Truck races, but dirt is where I found my home.”
The major difference between the pair is that Wallace reached the Cup Series level, where he earned his standing as one of the sport’s most beloved personalities. Hoffman and Wallace eventually crossed paths a couple years ago, when the retired stock car star began running one of Hoffman’s Elite Chassis.
“He’s been running one of my modifieds for the last couple years,” Hoffman said.
Their traditional, annual event together is the Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals at Volusia Speedway Park in Florida, which Wallace missed last year due to a vacation in Mexico.
“I called him when he was in Cabo and was like, ‘You not being down here sucks, cause everybody’s down and mad,’” Hoffman said. “He said in an interview about it that it almost made him cry.”
This season, the 60-year-old opted not to miss the DIRTcar Nationals and will drive Hoffman’s personal UMP Modified at Volusia on Feb. 5-10. Hoffman will turn the wrenches as the crew chief.
“The whole deal is mine, I just don’t get in the driver’s seat,” Hoffman explained. “I got two crew guys from my late model that are coming down with me and it’s my hauler, my car, everything — it’s exactly like what I would race.”
When Wallace exits the race car at the end of the two-week stretch, it’s back to being Hoffman’s personal ride to wheel in between his World of Outlaws Late Model Series commitments.
That being said, Hoffman is more than content with his decision to let Wallace take the wheel and compete for a Gator trophy.
“To be totally honest, I do not like the (new) format at all. Back when I was doing it every year, we had to race against 80, 90 cars every single night and only had one feature and now they do four features, and I just don’t believe in it,” Hoffman explained.
Having Wallace in the cockpit allows Hoffman to simply have fun during the modified portion of the event, though Hoffman will race for a Gator with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series the following week.
“I’m just really looking forward to it, just because I know he (Wallace) can still get it done as a driver,” Hoffman said. “We’re good enough to win.”