"Dale Earnhardt was spotting for me that day": $9M-worth Kenny Wallace recalls unforgettable NASCAR debut

Veteran NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace recently recalled the time when he stepped into an Xfinity Series car for the first time. Dale Earnhardt Sr. was spotting for him that day alongside Rusty Wallace.

In 1988, a young Kenny Wallace made his way into the Xfinity Series race at Martinsville after Earnhardt Sr. gave him the chance. This was the first time he raced in an official NASCAR race. He finished in 11th place, which was impressive for someone who had never raced in the series before.

Talking about the event on his YouTube channel, the $9M-worth Kenny Wallace (According to Celebrity Net Worth) mentioned that Dale Earnhardt was spotting for him in the race alongside his brother Rusty Wallace. He stated that the two gave quite contrasting messages: Earnhardt kept asking him to push while Rusty was worried about a possible wreck.

"NASCAR watched me run Martinsville," he said (at 4:00). "They said 'hey okay the kid the kid can drive he's a good racer.'

"It was funny because Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Rusty were both spotting for me that day. Now imagine your very first Xfinity race ever and you got Dale Earnhardt senior and Rusty spotting. Earnhardt's going 'drive the hell out of it Herman, you're looking good!' and Rusty's 'going don't wreck it!"

Following this race, Rusty Wallace offered Kenny Wallace a full season to drive his car in 1989. Over the course of 31 races, he finished sixteen times in the top ten while driving the #36 Pontiac for Rusty Wallace Racing.

Wallace earned the Rookie of The Year award and was sixth in the points table at the end of the season.

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"Dale Earnhardt became a God" - Kenny Wallace on his first impressions with the veteran in the garage

Right before the Martinsville race in '89, Wallace revealed that they had to change some components on the car because of an oil leak. At this point, he had the chance to spend time with Earnhardt Sr. in the garage.

Wallace recalled that it was a priceless moment and that Earnhardt Sr. was wearing his trademark cowboy boots. He also said that he did not realize it at the time, but he (Earnhardt) "became a God." He said (at 4:30):

"I remember we changed the motor the day before because there was a small oil leak and there's Earnhardt up in the motor compartment with his cowboy boots. And man, now that I look back at it, what a time that was. I was just too focused, you know, to realize, man. Dale Earnhardt, you know, and Earnhardt became a God."