Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 22, 1990 TAG: 9004220056
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RANDY KING
DATELINE: MARTINSVILLE LENGTH: Medium
Wallace, missing in action on the track for most of the season's first two months, says all the extracurricular activities surrounding his 1989 title have begun to affect him and his Raymond Beadle team.
"We haven't had a good year so far, and if you've got a problem, the first thing you want to do is try to pinpoint a reason," Wallace said during a test session Wednesday at Martinsville Speedway.
"If there's any potential to light the fuse, you want to extinguish it as quick as you can," he said. "So the first thing I look at is the time I'm being pulled away from this race car to do other things."
Obviously, something's missing for Wallace. In the first six races of 1990, Wallace and his team have been a shadow of the outfit that had won more races (12) than anybody on the NASCAR circuit during the past two years. Heading into today's First Union 400 at North Wilkesboro, N.C., Wallace is 10th in the Winston Cup standings, 195 points behind leader Dale Earnhardt.
The team that once seemed to be so close-knit has unraveled as Wallace has been forced to pay the the price for being a champion and a superstar in a sport fueled by lucrative corporate sponsorships.
"Take today," said Wallace, as the team loaded up his Pontiac on Martinsville's pit road. "We've got to cut today a half-day short because I've got to go to Pittsburgh for a Mobil One deal.
"There's something going on every day, it seems. What's today? The 18th? Let's see, I'm off tomorrow. Got a big television deal tomorrow night. Then, I go the 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th and 30th. Then, I'm off the 31st. How many days are there in April? Thirty, probably."
Wallace isn't kidding when he says it's time to back off - off the track.
"Oh yeah, I've sent word," Wallace said. "I've sent letters that say, `Hey, guys, I'm trying to do everything I can to enhance the products. If there's any chance we can ease off, let's ease off a little bit.' "
Although he's an outgoing guy who loves headlines and attention, Wallace said he misses the days when he and his teammates could do their thing in virtual obscurity.
"I've got this personal services contract, and all of a sudden it seems like this year everybody wants to exercise it at the same time," Wallace said. "I've been hopping in that damn airplane every day it seems.
"Even at Wilkesboro I've got to do some stuff for [car sponsor] Miller where you go shake hands, drink beer and shake hands. I enjoy the people, but I've got to admit when you get done practicing some days, you're kind of bum tired. Then, you've got to go out and smile and act like you're happy.
"Now, I just don't have any time. Used to be we'd leave the race track and we'd all go back to the motel. We'd all sit in the lounge and have a beer and talk about the car and say stuff like, `Tomorrow, we'll change this, change that.' We had a game plan.
"Hell, I haven't been in a bar with these guys in God knows how long because every night they [sponsors' representatives] have got me dressed up in a suit going somewhere.
"I remember many a time on a Saturday night when we'd sit that damn car up over a six-pack of Lite. And that sucker would blow 'em away the next day."
Wallace, who vowed to be the best champion NASCAR has ever had, emphasizes that he is not complaining. He is paid handsomely for his outside activities, but he doesn't want to lose focus on his task - driving a race car.
"Driving the car is my main job, and that's what I've got to do. We're pretty far behind right now," said Wallace, who has yet to finish in the top five in a race this season after posting 32 top-five runs in 58 starts the past two years.
"We've got to do something to get things turned around," he said. "There's no conservative stuff left. We're not sitting in a real comfortable area where we can sit back and run decent-sized motors. We've got to really lay the hammer down on it now."
On - and off - the track.
Whether he repeats as NASCAR champion or not, Wallace claims he already has one title sewn up.
"When it's all said and done at the end of the year, if anybody says I'm not the best champion as far as PR work for this sport, I will tell 'em to kiss my . . . because I don't think anybody can keep up the pace I've been doing."
Sounds like he can't, either. Not anymore.
by CNB