PETERBOROUGH, ON – With a new car and a reinvented program, Mike Wallace has confirmed he will compete fulltime at Peterborough Speedway in 2016. The campaign will mark Wallace’s first fulltime effort in several seasons, and will pit ‘The Blueprint’ against some of the top names in the Ltd. Late Model division.
The former Kawartha Speedway Pro Late Model competitor acquired a McColl Racing Enterprises chassis from longtime friend Bryan Watts during the off-season, and has worked tirelessly all winter in preparation for Peterborough’s season opener on May 21st.
“It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to put together a program to run for a championship, so I’m counting down the days until we get started,” smiles Wallace. “It’s an exciting time to be on the Peterborough Speedway roster. There are a ton of really talented teams here, and I feel like the 2016 season could be the most exciting that Peterborough’s had in a long time”
Wallace will once again work with the same family-run operation that has carried him to a number of strong finishes in recent Peterborough Speedway outings, and has also welcomed a wide array of marketing partners both new and old to support his 2016 season.
“I can’t thank my sponsors and my team enough for helping me put this deal together,” says the third-generation star. “I’ve been so busy at work the last few years that it would never be possible to have a fulltime program without a lot of help. The guys on this team have already given so much of their time and effort all off-season that I hope I can repay them with a win on opening night”
“It costs a lot of money to be able to compete at this level, and I’m really fortunate to have a group of marketing partners that believe in what we’re doing,” continues Wallace. “These people have all stepped up in a big way this season, because they want to win just as badly as I do. It’s a complete group effort. I’m humbled to be surrounded by so many people that are willing to work together for a common goal”
‘The Blueprint’ joins a race for the Peterborough Speedway championship that is also likely to include former Peterborough champions Ryan Kimball and Bryan Sudsbury, former Barrie Speedway champion contender Rick Walt and former Autumn Colours Classic titlist Chris Mitchell.
“Peterborough has the most underrated division in Ontario,” explains Wallace. “There are guys here that could give any of the best teams a run for their money. We’re approaching this season as though we’re getting ready to race against the best of the best – because that’s the truth. It’s going to be a war every Saturday. Our entire team understands the level of commitment that it’s going to take to win races this summer”
When asked what his week-to-week strategy will be, Wallace insists that the secret to success at the rough and tumble 1/3-mile is a relatively simple concept.
“The biggest key to a successful season – especially at Peterborough – is to do everything you can to keep your equipment together,” opines Wallace. “It’s a tough place to get a handle on, especially if you can’t get to the bottom groove. Some guys can’t deal with that and they get impatient. When you get impatient, you make mistakes and you tear your stuff up. Then, the next thing you know, you’re spending your entire week putting your car back together again instead of making it faster”
“Our goal is to spend every week getting better,” continues Wallace. “And if we want to do that, it means we have to bring our car home in one piece on Saturday night.”
Fans can stay up to date with Mike Wallace and his team all season long by visiting the official Mike Wallace Racing page on Facebook and by following @Blueprint27MW. For more information on Wallace’s May 21st debut, visit www.PeterboroughSpeedway.com.
Mike Wallace’s 2016 efforts are made possible thanks to the support of JRB Engines and Performance, JBEX Construction, Puckrin & Latreille Real Estate Group, Custom Mobile Wash, Sitescape Landscape, Kirk Norris State Farm Insurance, Merrett Home Hardware Building Center, Mister Transmission, Shawn Micks Investments and Morgan-Amber Photography. The team is actively seeking additional marketing partners to help chase the 2016 Peterborough Speedway Late Model championship.
By Spencer Lewis
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