When Rusty Wallace paid his $5,000 fine to NASCAR in the most unexpected manner

Back in 1997, Rusty Wallace played a prank on NASCAR President Bill France Jr. after receiving a $5,000 fine for swearing over the radio. Instead of simply writing a check, Wallace came up with a more creative approach. He drove up in a truck filled to the brim with 500,000 pennies, which weighed a hefty 3,500 pounds.

Wallace didn't just bring the truck; he also brought France to witness the spectacle. Upon opening the rear door of the truck, they were greeted by bags full of pennies neatly arranged. As Rusty Wallace started to explain his unusual form of paying the fine, France couldn't hold back his laughter.

As the cameras rolled, Wallace told NASCAR president Bill France Jr.:

“I’m paying my fine to you in something that has some weight. All you guys, never say (bleep), at least not on the radio.”

He even picked up a bag of pennies and handed it to France, saying:

“Now remember y’all. You can’t never say sh*t.”

Although Bill France tried to maintain professional behavior, he couldn't resist smiling. He quipped:

"Well, at least when you're on the radio, Rusty."

Reminiscing about the same, a fan recently posted a picture of the event and captioned it:

"Rusty Wallace presented Bill France Jr. with 500,000 pennies to pay for a $5,000 fine in 1997. This is a level of F*CK YOU ALL I can respect 😆 😆 🤣"

Wallace giving $50k pennies

The entire episode was designed as a prank and taken in good spirits. In fact, a week before Wallace's antics, his team, Penske Racing South, had already handed over the check for the $5,000 fine to NASCAR.

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Rusty Wallace pulled a fast one on Dale Earnhardt Sr. by stealing his steering wheel

Back in the day, Rusty Wallace and Dale Earnhardt Sr. were known for their pranks on each other. Wallace reminisced on the Dale Jr. Download about the time he swiped Earnhardt's steering wheel. In those days, drivers often left their steering wheels on the roofs of their cars, and Wallace took advantage of this by quietly walking off with Dale Earnhardt Sr's, unnoticed by anyone around.

As race time neared, Wallace was in his car, casually observing the scene unfold through his rearview mirror. Suddenly, chaos broke out near Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s car as the team scrambled to locate the missing steering wheel. After letting the panic play out for a bit, Rusty Wallace couldn’t resist the reveal. He reached out of his car window, steering wheel in hand, much to the amusement of those frantic on the ground.

Even Dale Earnhardt Sr. had to tip his hat to Wallace later, acknowledging that he'd been pranked.