Kenny Wallace is preparing for the Kenny Wallace DIRTcar Nationals 2026, teaming up again with Nick Hoffman’s Elite Chassis for a renewed championship push at Volusia Speedway. The veteran NASCAR racer, set to compete from January 29 to February 7, continues his decades-long motorsports journey and aims to expand his legacy on both dirt and asphalt.
Wallace’s Achievements and Return to Volusia Speedway
Beginning his dirt racing career at age 44, Kenny Wallace has amassed an impressive 128 wins and secured six DIRT racing championships at 62. In the previous year alone, he entered 41 events, winning seven and finishing in the top three on 24 occasions. His efforts paid off with the Missouri/Illinois regional championship and the Bullring Championship titles.
All of Wallace’s 41 races last year were powered by Darrell Hoffman engines—an ongoing partnership that’s become a hallmark of his racing career. Returning to Volusia Speedway, Wallace is the only driver to have claimed victory on both the dirt and original asphalt configurations at the track, an achievement that cements his place in the venue’s history.
Continuing the Hoffman Partnership and the #36 Car
This 2026 DIRTcar Nationals appearance will mark Wallace’s third straight year driving a car built by Nick Hoffman, who not only fabricates elite DIRT modified chassis but also manages a sizable customer base. Wallace will return behind the wheel of the #36, which will showcase sponsorship from both his partners and those associated with Hoffman.
Explaining the close relationship and collaborative spirit between himself and the Hoffmans, Wallace remarked,
“Nick and myself get along really well and it’s all about communication and having fun. Nick‘s father Darrell Hoffman built my motors way back in 1986 when I first started racing. It’s been a long friendship with the Hoffman family. This is the best of both worlds for Nick and myself. Nick will have 20 or more customer cars to look after so it makes all the sense in the world for him to have his own car down there with me driving it”.
– Kenny Wallace, Driver
Active Beyond Racing: Media Presence and Projects
Outside of competition, Wallace remains active in motorsport media, regularly hosting “Coffee with Kenny” on YouTube and co-hosting a podcast with Hall of Fame driver Mark Martin. These platforms have allowed Wallace to reach a wider audience and share insights from his career and life, adding another dimension to his presence in the sport.
Family Reflections on NASCAR’s Realities
In a recent interview featuring his daughters Brittany and Brooke Wallace, the family offered candid commentary on the world of NASCAR. Brooke, his eldest, spoke directly about their experiences as part of a racing household:
“I respect NASCAR. It provided a wonderful living for our family, but it is all politics….It is just chasing money and like people are ruthless. They will cut you out in a hardbeat and they’re just mean to each other. I just remember you being literally just fighting for your career nonstop the whole time,” she said.
– Brooke Wallace, Daughter of Kenny Wallace
Kenny Wallace’s NASCAR tenure spanned 25 years, establishing the record for the most starts in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with 547 appearances. Despite his remarkable consistency, his experience in NASCAR’s Cup Series was marked by difficult battles for sponsorship and frequent substitute roles, including a notable second-place finish at Rockingham Speedway when he replaced an injured Steve Park for Dale Earnhardt Inc.
Outlook for the 2026 DIRTcar Nationals and Beyond
As Kenny Wallace gears up for the 2026 DIRTcar Nationals, he builds upon a legacy shaped by resilience across dirt and NASCAR circuits, strong family ties, and lasting collaborations, particularly with the Hoffman family. His racing achievements, continued media engagement, and candid family reflections on the challenges of professional motorsports further highlight his enduring relevance in the world of American racing. Fans and competitors alike will be watching closely as Wallace and Hoffman take their familiar partnership to the famed Volusia Speedway once again.
PRESS RELEASE 🏁
Kenny Wallace will drive for car owner @Nick_Hoffman2 in one of his Elite Chassis
race cars for the third straight year in the @DIRTcarRacing Nationals in @VolusiaSpeedway January 29th through February 7th.Wallace said,
“Nick and myself get along really well… pic.twitter.com/4BEhGRAbiB
— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) January 27, 2026
