Wally Dallenbach Jr

23/5/1963

Record updated 05-Mar-08

Wally Dallenbach, Jr. is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver. He competed in 226 Winston Cup races between 1991 to 2001. He has also raced in SCCA Trans-Am, IMSA Camel GT, CART, and the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb.

Wally Dallenbach, Jr. was born in Basalt, Colorado. He is the son of legendary open wheel racer and former CART chief steward, Wally Dallenbach, Sr.

In 1983 he drove for Dan Gurney in the Rolex 24 at Daytona in the GTU class.

He started racing in SCCA Trans-Am Series in 1984 and winning the the Rookie-of-the Year title. He went on to win the Trans-Am Championships the following year driving for Jack Roush in a Mercury Capri, becoming the youngest ever Trans-Am champion. He also won the GTO class at Daytona that year driving with John Jones and Doc Bundy.

In 1986 he joined the Protofab team, driving a Camaro to his second Trans-Am title.

He turned to NASCAR in 1991 making 11 starts in one of Junie Donlavey's Fords. He also won the GTO class at Daytona Rolex 24 again driving with Robby Gordon and Mark Martin.

For 1992 he joined his old boss Jack Roush driving as teammate to Mark Martin in the Number 16 Keystone Beer Ford. He took another class win at the Daytona 24 Hour race taking the GTS class with Dorsey Schroeder and Robby Gordon.

He stayed with Roush in NASCAR for 1993 but switched to Richard Petty the following year when he became the first driver other than Petty to drive the Number 43. It was not a good year and he was dropped mid season.

1995 was another year of mixed fortunes. Without a full time ride, he did a one race deal with Bill Davis and almost took his first Winston Cup win at Watkins Glen.

He had a number of drives in 1996, 1997 and 1998 but was still without a full time seat. However in 1999 he signed on to drive the Number 25 Budweiser Chevrolet, finishing 18th in the points standings.

In 2000, Wally joined Galaxy Motorsports to drive the Turner Broadcasting Ford and when his sponsorship failed to materialise in 2001 he was left without a drive again.

So Wally joined NBC and TNT commentate on NASCAR races. He is now well known for his pre-race "Wally's World" segment, where he takes celebrities for a ride around the track.

The commentating also allowed Wally to drive in a few NASCAR Busch Series races and do some live commentary from inside the car.

He raced the Robinson Racing Pontiac Riley with his brother Paul, George Robinson and Darin Brassfield at the 24 Hours of Daytona and in 2006 and won the open wheel division at the Pikes Peak International Hillclimb with Paul finishing right behind in 2nd.



hr