Rusty Wallace's Job Gone Awry: A NASCAR Legend's Unlikely Start

Ever heard the one about the NASCAR star who got fired for losing a drum of chemicals? Well, buckle up because this tale is a wild ride. Long before Rusty Wallace became a NASCAR legend, he was just another guy trying to balance a day job with his racing dreams. Kenny Wallace, Rusty’s younger brother and NASCAR veteran, recently shared this hilarious story on his podcast. Back in the day, the Wallace brothers, along with NASCAR crew chief Paul Andrews, worked at their Uncle Gary’s janitorial supply business. Every Friday night, they'd race at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, Missouri. But first, they had to clock out. Uncle Gary wasn’t thrilled with their racing hobby and gave Rusty a tricky task one Friday: deliver a 55-gallon drum of chemicals to Illinois. Time was tight, and Rusty was not happy. Rusty loaded up the box truck, which was held together by chains, and sped off. But Murphy’s Law struck. The drum bounced out near the river, and when Rusty reached the delivery point, the recipient asked, "What 55 gallons? " Oops. Rusty realized his mistake and raced back, but Uncle Gary had had enough. Rusty was fired. Kenny laughs now, saying it was the best thing to happen. Without that job, Rusty could focus on racing. And focus he did. Rusty went on to become a NASCAR Hall of Famer, winning the 1989 Cup Series Championship and 55 Cup Series races. Who'd have thought a spilled drum of chemicals could launch such a legendary career?