Kenny Wallace confirmed he will no longer be competing in the Gateway Dirt Nationals after announcing last year that he would no longer compete in the event.

Following Cleetus McFarland’s announcement that he will make his debut in a Dirt Super Late Model at the Gateway Dirt Nationals in race promoter’s Cody Sommer’s Race DRT team, Wallace was asked by a fan if he would be competing in the event this year as well.

He answered, “No. I’m getting too old for all this stuff. I will not be racing anymore at Gateway Dirt Nationals or Volusia Speedway for Speedweeks. The time has come for me to only race around home.”

No.
I’m getting too old for all this stuff.
I will not be Racing anymore at @GatewayDirt or @VolusiaSpeedway for Speedweeks. The time has come for me to only race around home. https://t.co/83ZIMbYPda

— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) August 20, 2026

Wallace had previously explained why he would not compete in a video to YouTube last year ahead of the 2025 Gateway Dirt Nationals. He said, “I am not running the Dome anymore. I’m 62 years old now and I always believe that there’s an end to everything. So this is the end of my Dome experience.”

He elaborated on why, “I’m 62 now. I’ve never worked so hard in all my life this year, in 2025. I’ve had a great year, probably the best year I’ve ever had in dirt racing for so many reasons. … I’m going on a cruise with my wife. Kim has always said December’s mine. But the Dome is a lot on this old man. It is a lot on this old man. … And I’m just tired everybody. … I’m not quitting, but you know what? I think I’ll run when I want to run.”

Wallace did not compete in the event last year, but had been a regular in the Modified division competing in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024. His best finish in Saturday’s feature was a 7th place back in 2018. He did win a stacked qualifying feature that year as well that included Mike Harrison, Dean Hoffman, Nick Hoffman, Kyle Strickler, Tyler Nicely, and even Bobby Pierce.

While Wallace has never won the event, he did deliver one of its most memorable moments when he won the B-Feature race in 2022 to advance to the main event. Wallace started in fourth and quickly worked his way to second passing both Dylan Thornton and pole sitter Rick Conoyer on the first lap through 3 and 4. He and Jordan Wever then put on a whale of a battle for the next handful of laps with Wallace ripping the top and Wever hugging the bottom. Wallace looked like he had finally made the move to get the lead with 3 to go when he got to the bottom of Wever. However, Wever held him off. It looked like Wallace might get him with a muscular move on the final corner, but a caution for a broke Chris Soutiea stymied that opportunity.

Nevertheless, Wallace got another shot. On the final lap of the race, Wallace had to hold off Austen Becerra for second. Not only did he do it, but he also snuck underneath Jordan Wever, who slipped up in 1 and 2 through the ruts. Wallace then held off both Becerra and Wever through turns 3 and 4 to claim the win. 

After winning, Wallace fed off the energy of the stadium and did his best Ric Flair impression. 

Not only did Wallace create one of the most memorable moments in the Dome, but he has had high praise for the event, “You know, we have Eldora, we have Knoxville, but there’s nothing like the Dome in the December. It is so theatrical. It is so exciting. And I have so many great memories. … The Dome is the greatest experience of my life. It really is. It really is.”

NEXT: Cleetus McFarland To Compete In The Gateway Dirt Nationals With Promoter Cody Sommer’s Race DRT Team