Familiarity Pays Off For 18-Year-Old Matt Wallace
Career High Third Place Finish in Mercy Masters of the Pros 144 (Special from Mike Wallace Racing)
May 18, 2014
Concord, North Carolina (May 18, 2014) – n his first race for his fathers team, Matt
Wallace returned to the track where his family has had great success to start his season,
and it paid off with a third place finish in the Second Annual Mercy Master of the Pros
144. This was the maiden voyage of the car that has taken Matt to 8 feature wins in the
last 2 years, and the first race of the 2014 season. Matt and his young team with North
Carolina chassis builder and race veteran Robbie Hamke calling the shots from the box,
worked hard in practice on Friday to get the car better, and ended the final practice as
second fastest.
On Saturday, they got back to work getting the car through tech and out for more
practice, but as temperatures rose, the speeds fell, but he was still quick. Qualifying
began at 5:oo and Matt went out 4th, turning his fastest lap of the day. After all 32 cars
made their attempt, Matt was in the show and starting 17th in the Lucas Oil, Dan Althoff
Chevy. The top 25 cars were separated by .527 seconds.
With 31 cars starting the race, it was an all-out assault to gain track position, as Matt
knew he had a better car than what he qualified with. “The car was a little tight through
the center, but I adjusted my line and could work under others in the corners”, said
Wallace. By lap 81 with only two cautions so far, Matt was in the top 10. “ We got held
up a few times in the first 100 laps, but I knew I had to be patient and just work to get around them clean.”
At the break of lap 100, Matt had moved into 8th. The drivers all had a chance to relax a moment, rejuvenate and make some changes. In this particular event, those who change tires, go behind those that don’t, so with an 8th place position, the call was made to loosen the car in the center of the turn and no tires. That was a key part of the race, because as the track went back to green, Matt was in the top 5 by lap 127, and after a back and forth battle for 5 laps, he he took over third place for good with 11 laps top go.
Matt continued to run down veteran racer Dave Gentile for second, but time ran out and he was not able to challenge for the win. “We made an adjustment, but probably should have done more, but the car is in one piece with limited damage” said a very happy Wallace after the race. “It’s good to be back here, the fans are great and we had a good run” he added.
None of this would be possible without the support of his family and his sponsors, crew and others who helped him this weekend. Lucas Oil Products, Dan Althoff Trucking, Bob Quinns Auto Bargain Center and Eibach.
For more information contact Matt at wallaceracing4@aol.com
