NASCAR Cup Series

Kenny Wallace to run Talladega XFINITY race after brother Mike's heart surgery

Published Apr. 24, 2015 11:45 a.m. ET

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While many drivers are trading in their firesuit for a spot in the FOX Sports 1 commentator booth, Kenny Wallace is doing the exact opposite.

The veteran driver announced Friday he will drive the No. 26 Toyota for JGL Racing next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Wallace will join teammates J.J. Yeley and Eric McClure in the Winn Dixie 300.

"Talladega is where I have some of my best finishes in my NASCAR career," said Wallace. "I think to have success at Talladega you have to enjoy racing there and that style of racing - and I like it. I look forward to teaming up with JGL Racing and especially my longtime friend Gregg Mixon."

The team initially planned on Wallace's older brother, Mike to drive the No. 26 Toyota, but surgery put those plans on hold.

The 56-year-old middle Wallace brother underwent triple bypass heart surgery last weekend in the Charlotte area. For Mike, the heart surgery came all of a sudden after derailed his plans to race at Talladega.

"I felt a little chest pain last week so I went to the doctor and the next thing I know I am going in for surgery," said Mike. "My dad had heart surgery about 35 years ago so I thought I was being proactive and taking all of the necessary precautions. This just goes to show that you never know and there are a lot of people walking around out there in the same situation. No matter how healthy we think we are -- no one can be careful enough when it comes to our health so everyone needs to go get checked out.

"My plan was to go to Talladega next week and climb behind the wheel of a car strong enough to win," he said. "If all goes as planned I will be going there to watch my brother do just that and root him and the JGL Racing team on. I am focused on getting back to full strength and returning to the driver's seat in the near future."

Saturday's race will mark Kenny Wallace's 545th career NASCAR XFINITY Series start and comes at one of his most successful tracks. Wallace has 15 previous XFINITY Series starts at the 2.66-mile superspeedway, his last in 2012 where he finished ninth.