Speculation is intensifying that #2-Rusty Wallace might not be retiring at the end of the season after all. This year has been billed as “Rusty’s Last Call,” as his final season on the NASCAR tour. However, in the past few days there has been intense speculation that Wallace is having second thoughts about hanging it up while he’s running so well. A question – car owner Roger Penske may be under pressure from sponsor Miller to keep Wallace in that car another year. However Penske just bought out Wallace’s share of Penske South, after nearly 15 years as business partners, and Wallace has been complaining about the huge tax bite that sale is costing him. The prospect that Wallace might not be hanging it up has some rival car owner eager to make a bid for his services. Ford men are expressing an interest in Wallace, who drove for Ford for several years before switching to Dodge. Chevy men are also expressing an interest in Wallace. Miller officials of course want their NASCAR team competing head-to-head against the Budweiser team, with superstar Dale Earnhardt Jr. And so far Wallace is doing just that – he’s led 204 laps, to Earnhardt’s five. Wallace has four top-10s, Earnhardt five.(Winston Salem Journal)(5-22-2005)
