Oh man, I just pretty much stumbled upon this interview and Rusty's words about not screwing up the sport is haunting. While I still watch and love NASCAR, it's declined pretty terribly since this interview. So many reasons can be given as to why, but how to fix it is the toughest question.
I was and still am an Earnhardt Sr. fan through and through, but in 2005 I was pulling for Rusty to win. He went out still a winner and just a great guy all the way.
Respect the sport.. Rusty my man, the drivers today have zero respect and are entitled. It's sad really. Penske racing was in a funk those last few years of Rusty's career unfortunately. :(
I ve never considered myself a big Rusty fan although I've respected him and felt he was a great part of Nascar. One things for sure, you can't help but be a fan of that iconic. Rusty smile.
My dad and I are still Wallace fans. I still have a Rusty Wallace hat from when I was like 4. My dad still has all of his, even from the 80s. He has a couple autographs and one time he saw Rusty getting ready to broadcast at Watkins Glen where we go every year, and showed him his hat. They shared a fist bump and talked for a bit. Rusty Wallace is still my all time favorite NASCAR driver.
I'm with ya there! Keselowski reminds me a lot of Rusty when I started pulling for him in the early 90's. Glad to see that 2 car finally get the championship it deserved.
Ever since my friend's dad introduced me to racing he always supported Rusty Wallace first and Tony Stewart secondly. Rusty is my favorite racer of all-time, and Tony is up there too but I have liked Jamie McMurray since Rusty retired him and Ryan Newman, go Jamie, daytona 500 winner in 2010. Thanks for the post, GO RUSTY WALLACE..!!!
his rivalry with Earnhardt, and later with Gordon were some of the best times. He had some close calls (93 and 94) and even could have contended later on but one of the best in the sport. Its great that although he and Earnhardt and him and Gordon had rivalries on-track, off-track they could be really close, be business partners and be friends, something you don't hear about these days unfortunately.
i still look back on his career.. and it's a career of closeness.. 3 2nds at Indy, 1 win in the 600 but FOUR 2nds in the 600, had a chance to win the Daytona 500 a couple times, should of been a 3-4 time champion... so while his career was above average with 55 wins and a title.. it COULD of been so much better.. and if not for the Gordon era of the mid to late 90s.. he would of won several several more races.
I think had there been no Earnhardt or Gordon during Rusty's prime years there would've been a few more championships. As a Rusty Wallace fan, I have to admit that he's very underrated for a Legend of the business. He's definitely the best short track racers ever. It's a shame Nascar got rid of a lot of those short tracks in favor of superspeedways.
@Greg4fun Should have had it in 99. He pits on the last yellow and gets 4 tires, he wins that race. From 97 to 2001 they were always making the wrong calls on pit stops. Costs him at least 10 wins during that span, if not more.
Rusty was my favorite driver from the time I started watching Nascar in the late 80s. I have a friend who was a Rusty fan and several friends that were Earnhardt Sr. fans. Nascar isn't the same without these two out there. I still watch the races and I kind of pull for Kurt Busch, but it's not quite the same.
It's not the reason he retired but it was a huge factor.... Rusty had a different view on racing AND life after seeing his best friend die... and found new priorities.
I'll never deny Rusty Wallace's talent, his short track wins. He had a very as a matter of fact personality but as a driver and now that he is gone, I respect his accomplishments though, he just was whiny after losses but he seemed to take it a lot better as his skills began to diminish.
Kind of sad the way rusty, Dale Jarrett and many on the great kind of just faded away. After all those years his final farewell was a 2 minute interview. Now a driver retires and it is all the media talks about.
Not me I pick other NASCAR driver Carl Edwards then after Carl Edwards was retired from the NASCAR race then I will pick my new NASCAR driver is Clint Bowyer.
@Brian211978 He only won 2 races after Sr died. California in 01, and Martinsville in 04. Came close a bunch in 02, had 6 2nd place finishes but couldnt get the win.
@nascarfanatic2425 i agree man,, i love rusty,,,, i know this dosent mean anything,, but SR won 7 championships and won over 70 races,,, rusty won 55 races,,,, and you said he coulda been a potential 5 time champ, but only one once,, so, its not un realistic
To me nascar just hasn't been the same since his retirement. And since Earnhardt sr.'s death. I try yo watch it but its just not the same or as entertaining.
Oh man, I just pretty much stumbled upon this interview and Rusty's words about not screwing up the sport is haunting. While I still watch and love NASCAR, it's declined pretty terribly since this interview. So many reasons can be given as to why, but how to fix it is the toughest question.
it starts at the top
Yep, 2005 was the biggest year in NASCAR, it's declined ever since......
Nascar was at its peak early to mid 2000s. It's sad how fast it starting falling a few years after Rusty said this
They just need to get back to the basics
Im glad that Rusty still does broadcasting for I can hear the voice of an good ol boy I was named after
This is so important. It is a privilege I feel like this interview should be reposted in its entirety on nascars social media
Wow. I forgot Rusty's interview was so profound. I've never been a big fan of his, but I respect the wisdom he showed here.
Rusty's Last Call!!! Being an Earnhardt, Dale Jr., Mark Martin, Matt Kennseth fan..., Thanks for The Great Memories Rusty!!! 🍺🍻💯💯💯🙏🏼🏁
I was and still am an Earnhardt Sr. fan through and through, but in 2005 I was pulling for Rusty to win. He went out still a winner and just a great guy all the way.
Respect the sport.. Rusty my man, the drivers today have zero respect and are entitled. It's sad really.
Penske racing was in a funk those last few years of Rusty's career unfortunately. :(
What a great man/driver. I miss seeing him out there.
I ve never considered myself a big Rusty fan although I've respected him and felt he was a great part of Nascar.
One things for sure, you can't help but be a fan of that iconic. Rusty smile.
My dad and I are still Wallace fans. I still have a Rusty Wallace hat from when I was like 4. My dad still has all of his, even from the 80s. He has a couple autographs and one time he saw Rusty getting ready to broadcast at Watkins Glen where we go every year, and showed him his hat. They shared a fist bump and talked for a bit. Rusty Wallace is still my all time favorite NASCAR driver.
Rusty predicted Brian France
Brian was already there. But the timer was definitely ticking
wish rusty was still racing. one of the greatest ever
Rusty was the best.He was my favorite driver when he retired i moved to dale jr.
Rusty was my brother's favorite driver
It sucks how much Nascar's changed.
When Rusty said "I hope nobody screws it up" . Its too bad Brian France did.
How has it been screwed up. It's basically the same other than some technology being introduced
@@derekd8142Yep. Nascar is still cool
He was just a Class act, Wish he would've stayed...... I still haven't been able to find a new driver to follow :(
Im from around the st louis area and the wallace bros. are legends. Glad he made the HoF. And too late rusty, they screwed it up 😣
I'm with ya there! Keselowski reminds me a lot of Rusty when I started pulling for him in the early 90's. Glad to see that 2 car finally get the championship it deserved.
Ever since my friend's dad introduced me to racing he always supported Rusty Wallace first and Tony Stewart secondly. Rusty is my favorite racer of all-time, and Tony is up there too but I have liked Jamie McMurray since Rusty retired him and Ryan Newman, go Jamie, daytona 500 winner in 2010. Thanks for the post, GO RUSTY WALLACE..!!!
Miss u Rusty u will aways be my favorite Nascar Driver
1:07 I wonder what Rusty thinks of how much Brian France has fucked it up?
“Don’t screw it up.” That hurt. NASCAR is absolutely unwatchable now.
his rivalry with Earnhardt, and later with Gordon were some of the best times. He had some close calls (93 and 94) and even could have contended later on but one of the best in the sport. Its great that although he and Earnhardt and him and Gordon had rivalries on-track, off-track they could be really close, be business partners and be friends, something you don't hear about these days unfortunately.
My favorite driver of all time! Rusty was the man.
Rusty fan forever. Cool guy.
i still look back on his career.. and it's a career of closeness.. 3 2nds at Indy, 1 win in the 600 but FOUR 2nds in the 600, had a chance to win the Daytona 500 a couple times, should of been a 3-4 time champion... so while his career was above average with 55 wins and a title.. it COULD of been so much better.. and if not for the Gordon era of the mid to late 90s.. he would of won several several more races.
Rusty always reminds me of Danny from Full House.
1993: 10 wins and no championship. 1988: lost to Elliot.
won in 89 though
I think had there been no Earnhardt or Gordon during Rusty's prime years there would've been a few more championships. As a Rusty Wallace fan, I have to admit that he's very underrated for a Legend of the business. He's definitely the best short track racers ever. It's a shame Nascar got rid of a lot of those short tracks in favor of superspeedways.
thanx for the memories Rusty, I still cheer for the Blue Deuce & Kurt Busch now, hopefully 2009 will be a championship year for us... so far so good
Well the blue Deuce won it in 2012 at least
we miss you rusty
@Greg4fun Should have had it in 99. He pits on the last yellow and gets 4 tires, he wins that race. From 97 to 2001 they were always making the wrong calls on pit stops. Costs him at least 10 wins during that span, if not more.
Rusty was my favorite driver from the time I started watching Nascar in the late 80s. I have a friend who was a Rusty fan and several friends that were Earnhardt Sr. fans. Nascar isn't the same without these two out there. I still watch the races and I kind of pull for Kurt Busch, but it's not quite the same.
Is it sick that ever since Rusty Wallace retired in 2005, NASCAR falls apart!
How many drivers can say they finished in the top ten in points in their final season?
It's not the reason he retired but it was a huge factor.... Rusty had a different view on racing AND life after seeing his best friend die... and found new priorities.
I was a Rusty fan because of my mom and now I am a Keselowski fan. I couldn't think of a finer driver to replace Rusty than Brad.
Brad didn't replace rusty wallace.
Kurt Busch Replaced Rusty
Rusty was a great driver... he had some bad luck.. he could of easily been a 3-4 time champion..
1:11....Brian France screwed it up.
This was hard to watch that night
I still miss the guy. I think nascar sucks without him. I can't find another guy to root for :(
Rusty was my fav for 20yrs & after this day, I lost interest in Nascar...
Same. Starting to like Chase tho
i will miss rusty wallace!
It's been 6 years since he called it a career, and I still haven't found a new favorite driver.
I'll never deny Rusty Wallace's talent, his short track wins. He had a very as a matter of fact personality but as a driver and now that he is gone, I respect his accomplishments though, he just was whiny after losses but he seemed to take it a lot better as his skills began to diminish.
Rusty Wallace is underrated by the numbers. Rusty's a lot better than a 1-time champ. He should have at least 3. Maybe even as many as 5.
Kind of sad the way rusty, Dale Jarrett and many on the great kind of just faded away. After all those years his final farewell was a 2 minute interview. Now a driver retires and it is all the media talks about.
@Jeff Gordon Dude, you really fucked up a great thread here. GFY
@Jeff Gordon Thanks for the reply. Shows good character on your part.
"I dont want anyone to crew this up"
Rusty's 55 win record is definitely impressive. It was also impressive to see Kyle Busch tie him.
Yea, i like kurt busch. When he was with Roush it seemed he was a punk kid, but u can tell he has really matured. Go blue duece.
Brian France messes it up sorry rusty
Rusty…They royally screwed your sport up!!!!!
Rusty Wallace would've benefited alot if the Chase was back early in his career! espicially 1993 when he won 10 races!
I stopped watching when Rusty retired. Just wasn't the same.
Not me I pick other NASCAR driver Carl Edwards then after Carl Edwards was retired from the NASCAR race then I will pick my new NASCAR driver is Clint Bowyer.
Yes he has I'm a kurt busch fan.
Rusty had a steakhouse in Myrtle beach, well more like surfside...Pretty good steaks.
It’s sad that in a later interview he thought he could’ve gone another year or two but oh well
@Greg4fun i agree, at least a 2x champion. id rather see him be a 1x champion and win the 500 tho
1:09-1:12 too late
it was a very sad day
My man the best
whats funny is mark martin said he would retire then... And he's still Mark Favretin.
Best driver to drive tht miller lite dodge
@Brian211978 He only won 2 races after Sr died. California in 01, and Martinsville in 04. Came close a bunch in 02, had 6 2nd place finishes but couldnt get the win.
=( i was a big Rusty Wallace fan.. i miss him alot.. i wish he could of gotten the Daytona 500 but eh..
when rusty said hope no one screws up nascar man was he wrong
What exactly is screwed up about it
If I had typed everything you just typed it would still be true. I pull for the #2 car ... lol.
@nascarfanatic2425 i agree man,, i love rusty,,,, i know this dosent mean anything,, but SR won 7 championships and won over 70 races,,, rusty won 55 races,,,, and you said he coulda been a potential 5 time champ, but only one once,, so, its not un realistic
Well Kyle had 2 good years. And I don't think Kyle is retired yet.
He talks about his wife. Year later goes into broudcasting.
Congrats on retirement.
I wish guys like Dale Jarret and Kyle Petty could have went out on the top like Rusty but they were and our with the wrong teams... :(
Was never a fan of Rusty growing up. But man, I miss these veteran drivers.
NASCAR is now full of young spoiled brats with no personality. Sad state.
NASCAR didn't listen. They screwed up the sport fucking bad. Would you agree.
I share a birthday with him
Is it true that Rusty retired because he said he was running scared after Dale Sr died?
Well this sport is fucked up. I used to watch all the races. Now i watch up to 8 raves thats all
I doubt that considering he ran 5 full seasons after earnhardt died! And won several more races after that!
To me nascar just hasn't been the same since his retirement. And since Earnhardt sr.'s death. I try yo watch it but its just not the same or as entertaining.
Most the drivers are boring now and the car suck and the tracks and the rules and points systems. Nascar sucks now.
Rusty: "Don't screw it up"
NASCAR: "Hold our beers"