Kenny Wallace addressed a long-pending question from fans this week about how family has shaped his path into NASCAR. The 62-year-old said that he would not have reached the national stage without the influence of his parents and brothers, especially Rusty Wallace, whose guidance opened the door to his early career.Kenny’s journey into racing began long before his first national start. Growing up in Arnold, Missouri, he watched his father, Russ Wallace, win across the region and learned the sport as a mechanic on both his father’s cars and Rusty’s early teams. That background created his first opportunities.By 1982, Kenny entered the Illinois Street Stock State Championship and won in his debut. Two years later, he was working full-time as a mechanic for Benfield Racing, rising to crew chief before earning his chance to drive. What followed was one of the longest and most consistent careers in Busch (now O'Reilly Auto Parts) series history. When asked on X:“Do you feel you would have made it to NASCAR without Rusty’s help and guidance?”Kenny Wallace said:“I would’ve never been born if my mom and dad had never met. And like @DaleJr and myself. ‘None of us’ would’ve made it without our dad’s or brothers.”Kenny's reply underlined the foundation that shaped all three Wallace brothers: Kenny, Rusty, and Mike Wallace. Their father provided a base, and Rusty, who was already a Cup Series star, provided the resources, the equipment, and the belief needed to turn Kenny’s grassroots experience into a national career.Kenny eventually made 547 Busch Series starts from 1988 to 2015, the most of any driver. He finished runner-up in the 1991 standings to Bobby Labonte and competed across multiple sponsor eras, from Busch to Nationwide, giving him a rare view of the series’ evolution. Today, after stepping away from NASCAR, he has built a second career in dirt racing while sharing views through Coffee with Kenny.Kenny Wallace’s dirt racing success and his tribute to Jerry HoffmanKenny Wallace gets into his car for 2020 youth go-kart racing in Bishop. Source: ImagnKenny Wallace’s 2025 dirt racing season was one of the best of his career. He won the Fall Frost Classic to clinch both the Missouri–Illinois Regional Championship and the Bullring title, completing a 41-race schedule that took him across seven racetracks.On his latest Coffee with Kenny, he highlighted a milestone for longtime friend and promoter Jerry Hoffman. The 2025 Turkey Bowl in Springfield, Missouri, drew 521 race cars, making it the second-largest short-track event in American history. Wallace celebrated Hoffman’s accomplishment with his trademark humor and a story about him directing cars on the track with his four-wheeler.Wallace joked about wanting Hoffman to be more visible out on the racing surface, then announced his plan to sponsor the vehicle.“So, next year at the Turkey Bowl, his four-wheeler that he rides is going to be painted fluorescent orange, got flags on it. It's going to be called the Coffee with Kenny four-wheeler. That way, we can see Jerry.”Looking ahead, Kenny Wallace mentioned the upcoming Gateway Dirt Nationals, set for December 4–6 at The Dome at America’s Center. Promoters expect between 35,000 and 38,000 fans - a record for a dirt race. Wallace will attend the opening night to host fans at his shop that Thursday morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.