Darrell Wallace Jr. prepares for "huge" opportunity with RPM

The BFFs, who have climbed through racing’s ranks together, will finally have an opportunity to compete against each other on NASCAR’s top tour. But unlike the other 30-plus competitors at Pocono International Raceway this weekend, Blaney and Wallace will campaign in the sport’s two most legendary cars - the Nos. 21 and 43 Fords.

It’s not surprising that Blaney wanted to capture the moment.

“He wants a picture this weekend,” Wallace said. “I was like 'Okay.' He was like, ‘We're driving the two most iconic cars in the sport this weekend. We definitely have to capitalize on that.’”

Wallace was just one Xfinity Series race away from the unemployment line when he got the call to fill in for Aric Almirola in the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford. Almirola broke his T5 vertebra in a vicious wreck at Kansas Speedway on May 13.

A huge opportunity 

Wallace, who will also run his final NXS race in the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing at Pocono this weekend, fully understands the magnitude of this opportunity -- particularly the chance to climb behind the wheel of what is likely the most recognizable car in the history of NASCAR.

“That's huge,” Wallace said. “That’s awesome for me to get my first start driving the No. 43 for Richard Petty and everybody at RPM. Then the other side of it is the first African-American since 2006. That's a lot of history behind it.

“I've always said dealing with that, I like to let the results speak for itself, let the results come in, let the history fall in behind that, not focus on the big spotlight, the African-American side, the iconic number. Let all that funnel in after we have our good runs, get out there on the racetrack and show everybody we can do it.”

Being a role model

Like most of the drivers at Monster Energy Cup Series level, Wallace, 23, has ascended up the traditional developmental ladder. And like most nine-year-olds, Wallace wasn’t interested in the color of his competition, he just wanted to have fun driving go-karts.

His learning curve was accelerated under the direction of Toyota Racing Development and NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity program. That’s when he had a greater sense of his responsibility — not only carrying on the legacy started by Wendall Scott, NASCAR’s first African American winning race car driver -- but as an example to the next generations as a NASCAR athlete.

“Never really even paid attention to see if there was anybody that looked like me growing up in the sport,” Wallace said. “Then as we started getting involved, getting into the late models, K&N Series. Started here with Bill Lester, Marc Davis, obviously the path that was started with Wendell Scott, letting all that, like I said a second ago, letting that all kind of funnel in behind it, and continue to carry on the torch that Wendell Scott laid out for all of us.

“For me, I just want to be a role model, put a positive impact on the kids that are watching the sport, that want to be a part of the sport, and leave a good everlasting impact on the sport, continue my legacy down the road.”

Path up the racing ladder

Wallace quickly proved he had the talent to excel in the top tours. Wallace won five races with Rev Racing in the K&N Pro Series East tour between 2010-2011 and was also victorious with J.D. Gibbs in 2012. In his first season in trucks, Wallace won with Kyle Busch Motorsports. He came back the following year and scored four wins, two poles and finished third in the standings.

Although Wallace’s next step was expected to be in a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota in the Xfinity Series, sponsorship never materialized. Sponsorship has been the same challenge for Wallace since he joined Roush Fenway Racing in 2015. Although he’s yet to win on the Xfinity tour, Wallace isn’t sure why it’s been so difficult to secure support, particularly since he’s currently fourth in the NXS standings.

“There's not a day that goes by where I don't think about that,” Wallace said. “That's probably the biggest battle. Yeah, you can look at Trucks, say that was three, four years ago, two, three years ago, whenever that was. Now it's the new year. Times have changed. We're winless.

“I guess I'm beating myself up over it right now, that may have something to do with it. The other part of it. I try to represent myself and my team the best that I can. Times get tough sometimes, you lose cool. At the end of the day it is one of the most demanding and grueling sports. Nobody loves finishing second, as we've seen in past races. t's a sport that you want to get everything you can out of it, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. So the sponsorship stuff, everybody's battling that. I just happen to be one of those guys that is.”

Perhaps a change of pace — and horsepower — will be the answer for Wallace who has only mustered six top-fives in 83 starts. Six-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson had just one win and four top fives and never earned a pole in his first 72 Xfinity starts. In his first 41 NXS races, Tony Stewart didn’t win either.

“Yeah, it's interesting how that works out,” Wallace said. “Every step of NASCAR gets more tough. You got to be ready for what comes at you. For some reason I've been beating myself up over for the last two years now, trying to get our first win in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.

“It's not for the lack of effort. Definitely given it my all, my team has given it their all to continue to be successful out on the racetrack. Just some things, got to have, like I said in my tweet on Saturday or Sunday, whenever that was, all the stars have got to be lined up. We had opportunities, but just wasn't able to capitalize on it.

“Looking forward to my first Cup start, seeing how that goes. We got to go out there and make the most of it.”

Approach for debut

Wallace hopes to make the most of his audition with RPM. As of now, he’s uncertain of his future once Almirola returns to the No. 43 Ford.

Still, Wallace understands that patience will be the key to his survival this weekend — and beyond.

“There's no need for me to go out there and try to set the world on fire, try to win races and put myself in a tough spot, not be able to capitalize on it,” Wallace said. “If the opportunity presents itself, yeah, we'll jump on it. There's no need for me to force a hole, end up tearing up a race car.

"I'm getting this opportunity because people believe in me and seen my talents coming up. I have to go out there, just back that up, show them I can manage and perform, and I belong in the series.

“I've always said that God has had my plans in His hands. I guess a new door has opened for this weekend, and we'll go out there and make the most of it.”