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Speaker's Corner: Cruising Down Motivation's Fast Lane with Rusty Wallace
April 09, 2008
"Driving" motivation takes on a whole new meaning when you're interviewing NASCAR champion Rusty Wallace.
By Robert Tuchman
Renowned NASCAR driver Rusty Wallace is no stranger to success. This NASCAR pro is the lead NASCAR analyst for ESPN and ABC Sports. His 25-year career included 55 Cup wins and he was the 1989 NASCAR champion. As a former NASCAR Premier Series champion, Wallace ranks as one of the top-five money winners in NASCAR history, with nearly $50 million in career earnings. In 1998, NASCAR named him one of its 50 greatest drivers of all time.
Wallace is also the owner of RWI Racing, a NASCAR Busch Series team featuring the No. 64 Dodge, driven by Jamie McMurray and his son, Steve Wallace. Wallace, who is married with three children, enjoys relaxing on the golf course and piloting his Learjet 31A. He owns six car dealerships in Tennessee.
Here, Incentive online columnist Robert Tuchman, founder and president of TSE Sports & Entertainment, takes a "pit stop" with Wallace to find out where this motivational speaker gets his inspiration.
What is your typical speaking topic nowadays?
I have several topics that I like to speak about: Building up an organization; NASCAR; my years and experiences in racing; my love of aviation (I'm a pilot); and my association with different sponsors.
With your schedule and show, what are the most convenient times to do events?
Monday through Thursday is best for me as I am often broadcasting on the weekends.
What do you enjoy most about giving speeches?
I enjoy meeting many different people. While I enjoy speaking about various topics, I also love doing informal chat sessions where I just sit in front of an audience and am interviewed for 30 minutes or so, then open it up to the audience for a question and answer session. It comes across more personal and gets everyone in attendance involved.
 Do you enjoy the interaction with clients, signing autographs, and taking pictures?
I really do. As I said, I enjoy meeting many different people. Some fans who are new to the sport of NASCAR want to know as much as they can and others who know the sport well have questions they have always wanted to know but never have had a chance to ask a driver before. I love the variety in that.
Most outrageous thing you have been asked to do by a client who booked you?
I really haven't had anything outrageous, but one thing comes to mind because it was so simple. Several years ago, someone asked me to attend a birthday party for a client's little boy. I walked around and talked to everyone one-on-one, sang "Happy Birthday" and had some cake. It was low key compared to other appearances I have been booked for, but it was nice just to hang out and have a good time.
How many private appearances and or speeches will you do a year?
I don't have a set number, but I do as many as my schedule will allow. I like pushing myself to get as many as possible to try and keep myself out in the public. This allows me to do my job better on ESPN/ABC because I know what people are interested in hearing about.
Are your speeches more motivational, spiritual, or comical?
I like motivational speeches, and I add a comical side to keep the mood upbeat. This helps keep the crowd's attention. The mixture of the two seems to give the audience a better sense of what you are trying to get across and they remember it better.
How do you come up with your speech topics?
Depending on who is booking the appearance, I like to stay with the theme of their event. This lets everyone stay focused on one topic for the event. If it is just an open appearance, I like to talk to the client prior to the appearance so that I can get a feel for what is important to them and what they want to get across to their audience. Then I put together everything from there.
What motivates you to do speaking engagements?
To keep myself out there so that people feel like they have a connection to the sport or to experiences I have had in my life. I don’t want to people to feel like they are cut off from the sport of NASCAR or from anything that I can bring them closer to experiencing because it is something they may never have the chance to participate in.
Do you prefer speaking to certain types of groups or industries?
I honestly like speaking to many different types of groups and industries. When you do various types of appearances or speeches you come in contact with all types of people, and I would not want to take anything away from anyone by putting a label on them. It is too much of a range to cover by saying one or the other because there are so many different people you can reach in those groups.
Favorite speech you gave or motivational moment?
The one appearance that comes to mind was one I did for The College Network, Inc. Their program is set up to help people get more out of life and it was a great experience to go there and speak to them and just feel all the new expectations in the air because everyone was so excited to be a part of their organization.
Who is one of YOUR favorite speakers?
Chuck Yeager! With my love of aviation I could listen to him speak for hours. He has done so many amazing things in his life. Since I can somewhat relate him by being a pilot myself I know the obstacles that he had to overcome to accomplish the things he has done. He is a true American that has so much to tell.
Robert Tuchman is president of celebrity marketing firm TSE Sports & Entertainment (www.tseworld.com) Rusty Wallace is represented by Mark Zimmerman at Headline Media Management in New York (www.headlinemedia.TV).
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