Walter's racing career started in three-quarter midgets at the Legion Bowl
First race car. A flathead Ford with a rope holding the door shut and the latest in vinyl numbers - no, wait - that's chalk!
The steam is from a blown radiator hose
1961 Top three in points - Hobby division (L-R) 2nd-Walter Wallace, 3rd-George Bonee, Champion-Jack Hilderbrand
Modified division (L-R) 2nd-Bobby Celsor, Champion-Malcolm Brady, 3rd-Charles Stofel
This photo surprised a lot of people when it showed up. Walter and Charlie Binkley were bitter rivals in the Hobby division.
Even members of Charlie's family were surprised to see they let Walter drive Charlie's backup car in a race. And he won!
Walter, Frank Wilson, and the crew of "Ole Yeller" - the # 62 Hobby car. Over the course of the 1962 and 1963 seasons
either Walter or Charlie won all but five Hobby features. It was one of the greatest rivalries in the history of the Fairgrounds.
Walter winning an afternoon feature before the Modifieds ran on the half-mile track.
For the 1964 season they did away with the Modifieds and started a new premier division - Late Model Modifieds.
One of the first people to complete a car under the new rules was Frank Wilson for Walter Wallace to drive.
Walter stands beside his new Late Model Modified for the 1964 season. Walter would win the season-opening race to become the first winner in the new division.
Billy Rolin shot this photo of Walter in victory lane on opening night of the 1964 season. He had just won the first Late Model Modified feature.
Not only did he win at the Fairgrounds, Walter also won features in Huntsville in Wilson's 1958 Ford.
Wilson also built a car for the Figure 8 division. Walter was involved in a collision in the "X" and was badly injured. Among his injuries were broken ribs.
Thankfully this looks worse than it was. During a feature on the half-mile Walter spun coming off turn two.
Bill Gregg and Freddy Fryar made contact with Walter's car. The gas tank ruptured and it burst into flames after Walter had got out.
Walter stands beside his Bill Dyer-built Late Model Modified during the 1965 season.
Red Farmer gets crossed up and Walter has nowhere to go in one of the first night-time races on the half-mile.
These are the drivers who drove the cars for the movie "Track of Thunder". Among those in the photo are:
Jerry Long, Coo Coo Marlin, Jack Marlin, LJ Hampton, Charlie Binkley, and Walter Wallace.
Walter said this car was built especially for the movie. It was very cheated up - it would have never passed inspection for the local races.
Walter looks to be working on the throttle linkage of the twin four-barrel carburetor of the car he drove in the filming of the movie.
That's Walter at the wheel of the PB Crowell look-alike movie car. Another driver had tried to drive the car up the ramp to flip it for a scene in the movie.
He failed multiple times. The director asked if anyone there could flip the car. Walter said he could. He failed the first try, but on the second he
yanked the wheel to the left at the top of the ramp and they had the flip on camera for the movie. They paid Walter $50 for his efforts.
Bobby Walker, Bob Hunley, and Walter in action during a race in 1967. Walter was on his way to winning his first track championship that year.
The team that won the 1967 championship - Kenneth Wiser, Walter Wallace, Frank O'Neal, and Charlie McGee
Walter drove this rear-engine car in the big Open Competition race at the end of 1967. He set an all-time half-mile track record of 19.14 seconds to sit on the pole.
For comparison, the pole for the Southern 300 two weeks earlier was 20.85 seconds.
Unfortunately, this is how the race ended for Walter. He was not injured in the crash.
Substituting for PB Crowell in the Crowell / Reed #47.
The car he campaigned in 1969
Walter takes the high line to avoid chaos in this 1969 wreck in turns one and two. Those involved are Charlie Binkley, Ben Pierce, Jimmy Griggs,
James Veach, David Sisco, and Jack Marlin.
Walter in the Hart Hastings car he drove in the Sportsman 300 in Daytona in 1968.
The team owned by Don Green that won the 1975 championship. Charles Strausser, Doc McArthur, son Wally Wallace, Walter Wallace, and unknown.
Walter recieving the 1975 championship trophy from Talladega promoter Don Naman. He gets a hug from Miss Fairgrounds while Ed Hamilton looks on.
Former NASCAR champion Buck Baker and Walter at a press party
Walter in the Don Green Cup car practicing for the Daytona 500
On pit road at Daytona with Dave Marcis and Richard Petty in the background.
In the cockpit at Daytona
Racing with Buddy Baker in the 1976 Music City 420 at the Fairgrounds
In the Don Green Nova Late Model Sportsman car at the Fairgrounds
Walter has left the pits with equipment attached. Future Cup official Walter would quickly issue a penalty for this infraction.
August 1, 1987. All the former track champions are honored in a ceremony at the Fairgrounds.
Walter receives his award at the ceremony honoring the track champions
Walter spent many years on pit road as an inspector in the Winston Cup series.
With his life-long friend Frank O'Neal at a racer's reunion in 2001
Another racer's reunion, this one in 2008. L-R: Jim Ford, Dan Ford, Phil Spickard, Russ Thompson, Freddy Fryar, Herb Lewis, Walter Wallace, Maurice Hassey.
Frank O'Neal and Walter being interviewed by Phil Spickard at an old-timer's night at Highland Rim Speedway in 2017.