OSWEGO N.Y. — 50 years. That’s how long Super Dirt Week has been happening in New York State. From the first winner in Buzzie Reutimann in 1972 to Mat Williamson, The who’s who of racing has raced at Dirt Week.
This year is no different with Kenny Wallace making a start in a Dirt Car Pro Stock, which is the most affordable class for major dirt racing in the Northeast.
“I represent dirt tracks at the local tracks,” Wallace said. “People come up to me all the time and say, ‘My son is 12 and has won eight championships, what do I do next?’ And I say, ‘Race the division you can afford.’ You don’t want money to ruin it for you.”
As a former NASCAR driver, it would be easy to jump into a Big Block modified for the week, however Wallace enjoys running all of them and does it for a reason.
“The reason I run the big divisions and the low divisions is I want people to check their ego at the door,” Wallace said. “You don’t have to run a big block to be famous, you can work up to it. Running a pro stock is showing you can be a racer if you want to be.”
While Wallace may have never driven a Pro Stock, he knows there’s talent in the field. Wallace looks to be in the mix by the end of the feature Saturday evening.
“I told everyone from the start I don’t want to embarrass myself,” Wallace said. “I feel like we have a seventh place race car. I feel like a top-seven would be good. There are probably 12 really strong race cars.”
Many of the other 28 drivers who will strap in to race never thought they would race against Wallace, or any other high profile driver.
“My crew guys just told me the guy I’m lining up next to said, ‘Im lining up next to Kenny Wallace.’” Wallace said. “I find that embarrassing because I’m the youngest of my three brothers with Rusty and Mike. I don’t look at myself as big time. If they can find success racing me that makes me happy.”
For Wallace, this is his last year traveling to race, as he will stay local to his St Louis, Mo. home in 2023.
“There’s nothing left on the bucket list,” Wallace said. “If there was more to do I wouldn’t do it, I’ve exhausted myself, I didn’t start racing until I was 22. I lost probably 10 years with the kids starting to race at five to 10 years old. I’m at dirt week and I’ve done it.”