Herm & Schrader – "Mike Wallace: Handling Heartbreak While Living His NASCAR Dream"

Released April 2, 2026 | SiriusXM, Dirty Mo Media | Hosts: Kenny Wallace, Ken Schrader | Guest: Mike Wallace

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and hilarious episode, Kenny Wallace sits down with his brother Mike Wallace to dive deep into Mike's expansive NASCAR career, how the Wallace brothers made their way from humble Midwest roots to the big leagues, and how personal tragedy reshaped Mike’s perspective on racing and life. The two reminisce about pivotal career choices, family dynamics, racing lore, and the impact of loss—offering an authentic look at the grit, heart, and humor that define the Wallace family and the sport.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mike’s Racing Journey & Family Roots

• Growing up Arnold Rednecks:
  The Wallace brothers reflect on their humble beginnings in Arnold, Missouri, and how those roots informed their competitive drive and work ethic.
  • “We come from Arnold, Missouri. We're Jefferson County rednecks. We make it to NASCAR.” – Kenny [05:11]
• Early Career Catalyst:
  Mike recounts how dirt track racing and a pivotal partnership with Brad Willard launched his climb to the NASCAR Mid American regional championship.
  • “Brad had broke his neck in a racing incident and says, 'Hey... we got this NASCAR thing and if you can help me, I got a car... but I need a motor.' And so we just put the deal together... It was magic.” – Mike [05:37]

2. Risk & Reward – Leaving the Family Business

• Deciding to Chase the NASCAR Dream:
  Mike candidly discusses leaving a comfortable, secure job running his uncle’s business to pursue racing—an agonizing but necessary leap.
  • “If I didn’t try it, I was going to regret it the rest of my life... If he [Uncle Gary] would have said, 'Come back in six months,' you would have never heard of Mike Wallace as the race car driver.” – Mike [13:50], [16:38]

3. Heartbreak & Loss – Handling Tragedy

• Losing a Child:
  Mike opens up about losing his son, “Baby Mike,” at age two in 1984, and how it shifted his outlook on life and adversity.
  • “My wife and I lost a Child Mikey, when he was 2 years old. And that changes your whole perspective on life. My saying has been... if it's changeable or fixable, it is only an obstacle of life.” – Mike [21:03]
• Helping Others Heal:
  Mike’s experience allowed him to counsel others, notably Tony Stewart.
  • “Tony Stewart told me this: ‘Mike Wallace helped me more than three therapists could ever help me.’” – Kenny [23:04]
  • "Earlier that day, we had a conversation and I offered, I shared what had happened in our life ... and in Victory Lane was Tony Stewart standing there with this huge smile." – Mike [24:00]

4. Racing Stories & Relationships

• Learning from Dale Earnhardt:
  A memorable day with Earnhardt at his farm imparted invaluable speedway knowledge to Mike, contributing to later wins.
  • “We talked about racing, we talked about Daytona, Talladega ... I think I learned things the average person didn’t get that exposure to.” – Mike [28:49]
• Racing Highlights:
  • First Craftsman Truck race ever at Daytona – “You won the very first Craftsman Truck race ever at Daytona.” – Kenny [27:14]
  • “1,000% batting average” driving for Kevin Harvick at Talladega [29:56]
• Fondest Team Memories:
  Mike’s favorite stints were with Jim Smith’s truck team and an eight-race run in the iconic Penske Mobil 1 car.
  • “When I drove the two truck for Jim Smith and... almost won the championship... and then the stint in 2001 with the Mobile One Penske car... that bought myself 10 more years of a career.” – Mike [31:10]

5. The Realities of Racing – Near Misses & What-Ifs

• Bittersweet Career Turns:
  Mike shares the gut-wrenching story of being offered rides with Childress and Roush—only to lose out due to timing and shifting sponsorships, including a Penske team folding right after a career-best run.
  • “He [Richard Childress] said, 'I'm offering you an opportunity.' ... But I was told... I was going to drive [the 12 car] again next year... I regretfully am going to turn you down.” – Mike [34:54]

6. Next Generation – The Wallace Kids

• Chrissy Wallace:
  Mike’s daughter found early racing success, winning championships against the odds, but her NASCAR rise was stymied by sponsor and timing issues.
  • “She was a little ahead of her time from the woman's side of things... Lisa Kennedy sent us a letter, ‘I want to help her...’” – Mike [49:09], [52:39]
• Matt Wallace:
  Talented but discouraged by the system’s focus on youth, Matt chose stability over pursuit of an uncertain racing career.
  • “He... looked at his mom and said, 'I don’t want you to break yourselves to make a career for me that I might not have.'” – Mike [57:17]

7. Life After Racing – Entrepreneurship & Family

• Building a New Legacy:
  Mike discusses successes in real estate and credits personal loss for strengthening his drive and resilience.
  • “If somebody says, oh, you're retired... that's not me. I constantly... I don’t like doing nothing.” – Mike [21:03], [22:50]
• Family Focus:
  The brothers reflect on their closeness and pride in each other's post-racing life, with Mike cherishing life in North Carolina surrounded by his children and grandchildren.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On regret and motivation:
  “If I didn't try it, I was going to regret it the rest of my life.” – Mike [13:50]

• On perspective after tragedy:
  “If it's changeable or fixable, it's just an obstacle in life. When you can't change or fix it, that's when it's really bad.” – Mike [26:00]

• On Daytona/Talladega success:
  “Just hard to beat talent, Hermit.” – Mike [28:04]

• On helping Tony Stewart:
  “Mike Wallace helped me more than three therapists could ever help me.” – Tony Stewart (via Kenny) [23:04]

• On NASCAR heartbreak:
  “Go from the highest of highs, literally... to the lowest of lows.” – Mike (on losing the Penske ride and turning down Childress) [38:09]

• On family legacy:
  “You always want more, but here we are... we got our health, we got our children.” – Kenny [48:15]

• On Chrissy’s potential:
  “She was a little ahead of her time... I really wish for her sake she would have had a chance to continue that career, to see how it played out.” – Mike [53:55]

Highlighted Segments & Timestamps

• [04:48] Mike on the significance of 809 NASCAR starts
• [13:23] Choosing between a stable job and racing
• [21:03] Mike discusses losing his son and how it changed his life
• [23:04] Helping Tony Stewart through his struggles
• [28:04] How Dale Earnhardt mentored Mike in speedway racing
• [31:10] Mike’s favorite teams and career highlights
• [34:33] Losing out on rides with Penske and Childress
• [49:09] Chrissy Wallace’s racing highlights and near-miss with sponsorship
• [57:17] Matt Wallace’s choice to leave racing

Final Thoughts

In a conversation filled with humor, authenticity, and wisdom, Mike Wallace's NASCAR journey is revealed as much about resilience and family as it is about racing. From heartbreak to checkered flags, near-misses to new beginnings, the episode is a testament to perseverance both on and off the track—a powerful, uplifting story for racing fans and beyond.