People with rich experiences in their lives always have the best stories to share. So when Richard Petty got Rusty Wallace to speak on his show, the conversation was nothing short of riveting. 

Richard Wallace talked about his iconic win in 1989, and how he was over the roof—quite literally, jumping with excitement over his win. But what did actually feel after winning the 1989 championship?

Rusty Wallace on his ‘89 NASCAR Cup Championship wins over Dale Earnhardt Jr.

In the competitive world of NASCAR, there are but a few legends, including Rusty Wallace. He dared to be the best, and he reached there in 1989 when he won the NASCAR Cup Championship. A true legend on track, Wallace paved his way to the top with grit and determination. On the track, he battled with some of the biggest names in NASCAR, like Dale Earnhardt, and took many wins home. 

He recalled his thunderous win in ‘89 when on the show with Richard Petty and said how he gave it his all. “I led every lap I could, I did this, did that. And when it was all said and done, I beat Dale Earnhardt for the championship, won it in ’89 by, I think, 12 points or something like that,” he said.

Expressed what he felt at the moment right there, Wallace reminisced, “I was so excited, I just couldn’t believe it. I mean, I look back now at me jumping on the roof of that car with so much excitement and stuff.”

Rusty Wallace’s career is a blueprint for drivers now and later of what it truly means to be a “true champion”. He led a stellar career and won 55 races throughout the NASCAR Cup Series. He talked at the same show about how one needs to do much more than show their racing prowess to go from being a driver to a legend. Not just that, he gave a straightforward “recipe” that aspiring drivers should definitely hear about.

Wallace on what it takes for a driver to become legendary

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In the vast landscape of NASCAR, drivers abound, but true legends are a rare breed. And for good reason–while many  may taste victory on the track, only a select few leave an indelible mark that transcends generations.

Rusty Wallace had a very concise and apt recipe for what makes racers legend. According to him, “You’ve got to win races, you’ve got to care about your fans, you’ve got to understand your car, you’ve got to be in all the meetings, you’ve got to care about the sport, and above all, I mean, you’ve got to be a fan favorite. 

Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt Senior are from a bygone era, yet remain inspirations to many drivers even today. As Kenny Wallace on his YouTube channel stated, “I gotta say that we will never see those iconic times ever again. Rusty Wallace could not walk down the street, Rusty Wallace and Dale Senior had to have sheriffs, they had to have guards, they had to have security when they would do autograph sessions.”

In the end, the question now remains—who will now rise to the mantle of the racing legend? What do you think? Do let us know in the comments section.