Former NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace was one of seven men inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America on Wednesday. Wallace made his debut on the top circuit in 1980 in a Roger Penske-owned car and joined the series full-time in 1984. His first victories came in 1986 with Raymond Beadle’s Blue Max Racing team and he won the 1989 Sprint Cup championship after holding off Dale Earnhardt. Wallace moved to Penske’s team in 1991 and ran the final 15 years of his career for the car owner, who presented him for induction Wednesday. Wallace finished his career with 55 wins – 37 with Penske – and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2013. Five of those victories came at Michigan International Speedway, once owned by Penske. Arie Luyendyk, who began racing on the IndyCar circuit in 1985 and won the Indianapolis 500 in 1990 and `97, also was inducted. The remaining members of the class – Ole Bardahl, founder of the Bardahl Oil Company that has sponsored entries in a variety of motorsports; IMSA founder John Bishop; three-time American Motorcyclist Association grand national champion Ricky Graham; and NASCAR pioneer Marshall Teague – are dead.(Associated Press)(8-7-2014)
