Kenny Wallace out at Furniture Row Racing-UPDATED
19 Comments Published August 15th, 2007 in NASCAR News
UPDATE:
A statement by Kenny Wallace:
“I want all my fans to know that I am going to give them a very personal retrospective of the way I feel about not driving the #78 any more. Two years a ago I was asked to come to Denver, CO and visit the Furniture Row shop. When I arrived, there was not even a Cup car ready to race, so from that standpoint I am proud that I was able to bring the Furniture Row race team to where it is today. I have a lot of confidence in my ability and the #78 team has a lot of confidence in their ability. We have got to a point in the NASCAR Nextel Cup season that I can sense the aggravation for the teams outside the top 35 in points. I truly want everybody to know that although I know it hurts a lot of my fans, that I am relieved. The week-to-week pressure of trying to make the race is very grinding, and I also felt that if the team feels like there is a change to be made, it was fine with me. I really, really feel this way. I am not lying! Like I always remind everybody I am a racecar driver to go to these races and not be able to compete was very, very hard on me. I will take time to let everyone know in the NASCAR circuit that I would like to drive in either the NASCAR Busch Series, Nextel Cup Series or even the Craftsman Truck Series. I would also like to let everybody know that while I wait for another NASCAR ride you can probably find me at your local dirt track racing. I really want everybody to know that our team manager, Joe Garrone, and our team owner, Barney Visser, have been really good to me and that the decision to try another driver was based upon more or so the crew members within the team this is what I was told by Joe Garrone. Joe is a good guy and has always been very supportive of me. I want to thank my personal sponsors JEG’S, Bank of America, and everybody at Speed TV. I will end like this: Never fold your tent. For a face-to-face interview, I will be on NASCAR Raceday this Sunday. Please watch.”
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Furniture Row Racing announced today that Kenny Wallace is stepping down as the driver of car #78. Officials for the team have stated that Wallace will remain with the team as a consultant and will be called upon to run races as needed, but that he will also be available to drive for another team.
Joe Garone, Team Manager for Furniture Row Racing, said: “Kenny has been the perfect driver for us as we have looked to his veteran experience during our first year-and-half in the Cup Series. His personality has brought much positive exposure to the team and to Furniture Row Companies, the team’s owner and sponsor. This has included winning the fan vote to participate in this year’s All-Star Challenge events.”
Looking at the remainder of this season, officials for Furniture Row Racing have said that they will be intensifying efforts to fine tune their performance in preparation for next season�s run. Wallace added: “I’ve enjoyed my run as the primary driver for Furniture Row despite all the challenges of a new team. I look forward to helping them as they move forward in building a program that will be competitive for many years to come.”
[Furniture Row Racing PR]
Won’t be long and Nascar will be in a ‘Wallace-free’ zone.
And that will be a bad thing as Kenny and his brothers have given a lot to racing.
A struggling team from Colorado, a driver that has more humor than driving skills and a losing proposition equals disaster. Kenny might be a funny guy, but that isn’t what it takes to compete in NASCAR. If you remember, Kenny came into Cup with the class of 1993. A kid named Jeff Gordon was ROTY. A guy named Bobby Labonte finished second in ROTY voting. They became Cup champions. Kenny drove for SABCO with Kyle Petty’s leftovers. This team also struggled with the late Bobby Hamilton. Kenny just couldn’t get over that hump when it came to making it big although he had a lot of fun along the way. I give him a lot of credit for stepping down. Go, Hermanator!
I like Herman but Rusty can take a long drive off a short pier. and Mike should just stay home/ They have done all that much for A$$CAR when you get right down to it. Rusty has always been a hothead and does not play well with others
This is crap a crap team is blaming Kenny Wallace
Kenny is a great guy and a good driver that has never been able to catch a break in a good car. Good luck Herm.
Yeah, Kenny is the only Wallace I can stand anymore. I’m amazed to see myself type that… Hell, throw Kenny in the 8 car. If Junior sucks so bad (like some have said) then Kenny will out perform him.
I love Herm on Trackside, but he doesn’t do much for me on the track at all… Doesn’t help that Furniture Row Racing is way over their heads most weeks. Single-car teams have an awfully tough time being competitive.. Maybe Herm stepped down because wearing a helmet all the time was messing up his hair plugs!
If they had a competive car Kenny might have been able to win some races
but there car isnt competive in any way.They need to replace other things
other than the driver.
That All-Star race my dad was like KENNY IS JUST SAVING HIS CAR HE KNOWS HE GOTS THE FAN VOTE. I am like even if he does get voted in the only people he will beat is if people wreck or have troubles in the All-Star race. And what happend? He only beat people who had problems or wrecked. :]
Put the little cousin “Lawrence” Wallace in the car from Geico commercial fame.
GOD KENNY IS A GREAT GUY AND A GREAT RACER I THINK WITH THE RIGHT CREW CHIEF AND RIGHT CAR HE COULD WIN SOME RACES,
i like kenny, but i think he should run with the trucks. he cant keep up in the cup seires, and bush its a joke now a days its the same dam guys you see on sundays. going to the the trucks would be good for him he could run with skinner and bensen and thoose guys. btw if any one knows how to find out if kenny is comming to paris CA to run on the drit let me know
I like Axel’s idea. :]
But really, I think Kenny is just better off hosting Nascar programs
and/or races. Well maybe not races, his laughter will mute the engines.
But he is a good guy, I hope he catches a break soon.
*YAWN* Nothing to see here. He’s as obnoxious as Jimmy Spencer and half as ugly. Those deserve each other as they are good at one-up-manship in trying to out-stupid each other.
I’m tired of hearing this BS of Kenny not catching a break. What a cop-out excuse. He may be popular because he is such a clown but he has no skills to back it up and couldn’t drive his way out of a wet paper bag.
Those that can perform, drive; those that can’t, broadcast.
End of story. Next…..
well if you remember kenny
drove the 97 car in 2005 when
roush was ontop of their game
and his best finish was only
a 17th. Is it lack of talent or lack of
chemistry. We may never know
Nascar is full of “Average Joe’s” like Kenny who can’t cut it unless there are 43 spots open.
Amen to that!
(Assuming you mean 43 cars trying for 43 spots)
Poor Kenny I feel sad for him. Actually he’s the only Wallace I can stand. And probably the only Wallace to deserve to be in NASCAR. (That’s just my opinion)