Having lost his ride in the No. 66 Premium Motorsports Chevrolet, Mike Wallace is back to knocking on doors and making phone calls to find a new racing home.
“My status is I’m a free agent in all categories, from the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series,” Wallace told NASCAR Talk on Wednesday. “This (being without a ride) wasn’t something that was on my agenda to be looking at.
“I thought we were going to run more races with the 66 car, at least that’s what was told to me.”
Now, just three races into the new Sprint Cup season, Wallace is faced with the hardest time of year to find a new ride.
“Nobody’s called,” Wallace said. “I don’t see anything opening up. Everybody’s on the West Coast swing. It’s hard to find actual driving positions for people at this early stage of the game (season).”
Wallace posted last Saturday on his Facebook page that the 66 team would not be racing for the foreseeable future. But 21-year-old Tanner Berryhill announced Monday that he’ll make his Sprint Cup Series racing debut in the No. 66 this weekend at Phoenix.
Wallace, who turned 56 on Tuesday, drove six races for Premium Motorsports last season, with a top finish of 26th at Martinsville.
He remained with Premium for this season, qualified 16th in the Daytona 500 and finished 36th. He failed to qualify at either Atlanta or Las Vegas.
The brother of NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace and NASCAR TV analyst Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace has at least one upcoming race lined up.
He’ll compete in the May 2 Xfinity Series race at Talladega for JGL Racing, for which he finished 13th in this year’s season-opening Xfinity race at Daytona.
In 11 total XFINITY Series races in 2014 (10 starts for JGL Racing and one for Mike Harmon Racing), Wallace had a best finish of 10th at Daytona last July.
While looking for a new ride, Wallace is keeping busy helping son Matt and his budding late model racing career.
He’s also expecting 300 people for a huge Sex and the City themed 30th birthday party he’s throwing for oldest daughter Lindsey on April 4.
“I’m in the supportive role of a father right now is what I’m doing,” Wallace said.
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