SCENEDAILY
BY LEE MONTGOMERY
ASSOCIATE EDITOR

BEACH, Fla. - Kenny Wallace has started 384 races in NASCAR's Nationwide Series, but he said this week he's never been more thankful to be in a race car than he has been this week.

Wallace is testing at Daytona International Speedway today in Baker Curb Racing's No. 37 Ford, and, though he's not guaranteed any races in the car, he's confident sponsorship can be found so he can run a full season with the team.

"I never felt so good to be in a NASCAR Nationwide ride in my life," Wallace said. "I know it sounds funny, but man, I'm grateful as hell to be here because I came very close to not being here."

Baker Curb officials called Wallace recently and asked him to test the car, and the driver immediately agreed. Wallace, 44, said he felt like a "26-year-old."

"It's pretty rough out there right now," Wallace said. "My whole career, I've never struggled this hard to find sponsorship. I've got to tell you, I'm humbled right now. It's rough out there. I'm confident that we'll get something, but I don't see new sponsors in our sport right now. I just see all the sponsors being recycled."

Wallace has personal sponsorship from Jeg's, which backs his dirt-track racing program, and while he said he hoped the company could be on the No. 37, Jeg's doesn't have a large enough budget to do much more than one or two races.

Wallace will continue his work as a television analyst, working for Speed. He's in the second year of a five-year contract, but Wallace clearly has unfinished business behind the wheel.

"I'm getting OK with it, but it's very hard to be to be known as a TV guy," Wallace said. "It insults me a little bit. I don't like it when people just consider me a TV guy. Here's my perfect scenario, when fans come up and go, 'Man, we love you on that race track, and it's really good seeing you on TV.'

"I don't like it when they go, 'You're an OK driver, but we like seeing you on TV.' That's OK, and I understand they mean well, but that's not where I'm at right now."

Wallace said he has been talking to Baker Curb and Fitz Motorsports about a Nationwide ride this season, but nothing has been finalized. Baker Curb has full-time sponsorship for its No. 27 and driver Brad Coleman, but the second car remains open.

Wallace said he was close to securing a sponsor, but the deal fell through.

"I'm not going to paint a real pretty picture because you can only go so far," Wallace said. "I feel like if we can get to the second quarter and piece this deal together and the government can get this economy back on track, corporate America will start loosening up some dollars."

Until then, Wallace will continue smiling, continue talking and continue to try to stay in the sport, first as a driver, and then as a TV personality.

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Ryan Newman, Daytona 500 Champion!!
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