Posted
by July 20, 2009
Atlanta, Ga.
As told to Tambria Peeples of Dretam Inc.
Hip-Hop pioneer Spyder D (whose real name is Duane Hughes), basketball franchise owner, turned racing jacket designer, turned manager, was recently flipping through some recent auto racing blogs when he noticed yet some more talk about Danica Patrick thinking about moving to NASCAR.
"Who ever is handling Danica is smart as hell", he mumbled to himself. "She can bring that up year after year, and get a rise out of everyone, including NASCAR, and especially her sponsors. Brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"
"In the meantime, my client, Chrissy Wallace, who has toiled in the short track races, paid her dues, had a promising first year in NASCAR's Truck Series, and I can't even get a sponsor for her jacket, much less for her racing exploits! I understand it's because of the sudden down turn in the economy, but still...". His voice trailed off.
"It is frustrating. I had made big plans for her this season. We were going to officially launch the jackets at Daytona, along with some other incredible opportunities, and the bottom just fell out! I know this isn't just affecting Chrissy. A lot of NASCAR teams were hit with budget cuts, and some people lost jobs. But you know Chrissy, she is my concern. I can't worry about everyone else, though I feel for everybody in America during this trying time. She is my client and I feel like I am not doing enough, no matter what I do!
Hughes had recently brought Chrissy and her dad, Mike (the middle brother in the legendary Wallace racing trio; Older brother Rusty and younger brother Kenny) to NY to discuss various opportunities with a prominent branding company, and were encouraged by the conversation.
"We are leaving no stone upturned in our search for what would be a no brainer in a robust economy", laments Hughes. "Last year, we even brought in Leland Hardy who had worked with Serena and Venus Williams to help. Chrissy is everything Danica is as a female race car driver and woman. To me, even better because she's younger and single. A Madison Ave dream come true! The All American Girl Next Door! Yet, I gotta read about Danica Patrick possibly going to NASCAR next year! Ok!
Fine! Bring her! I know they (NASCAR) better be bringing Chrissy right along with her, she's one of their own. Let them both race at the same level. I know for a fact that Chrissy has a whole lot of respect for Danica. She has told me so. I mean, she busted open the door so Chrissy could walk through! I myself have a whole lot of respect for Danica. Chrissy Wallace is the truth though!
If Danica is serious, then let her come over to NASCAR. All I'm saying is let Chrissy get her fair share too. She's paid her dues, and learned from her Dad and Tony Stewart who is a champion in open wheel and stock car racing! Are you kidding me?!
That speaks for itself.
"You know what", says Hughes, voice now in a steady rise.
"I bet you, all things equal. Chrissy may even beat Danica, or place better, if they were in a NASCAR Truck Series race!
Hey! Why wait until next year? Do it this year! The last races of the season is Homestead, Florida. Let them race against each other in the last truck race of the season. NASCAR has been looking for juicy stories all season! There it is! Chrissy Wallace versus Danica Patrick as a preview to next season! It would certainly heighten what has been an otherwise dismal season, and brighten the future for the sport. Chrissy Wallace and Joey Logano are the future of that sport, yet, I can't get a sponsor to put her on the track this season.
Incredible!
Absolutely incredible!"
------------------------------------
About Chrissy Wallace:
Chrissy Wallace is the 21 year old daughter of NASCAR Nationwide Series Driver Mike Wallace, who is a 3 time winner at Daytona's famed race track.
At 19 Chrissy became the first female driver to ever win at Hickory Motor Speedway in North Carolina, a proving ground for would be NASCAR drivers. She made her NASCAR debut in March, 2008 in Martinsville, VA, finishing 18th in her first professional race. Chrissy has won at all levels of racing, and was the first female to do so at many tracks around the country.
About "Spyder" D Hughes:
"Spyder" Duane Hughes, is a pioneering rap artist and producer, who became the first rapper to run his own label (Newtroit Records, 1979). Hughes became involved with professional sports in 2005 when he brought an ABA basketball franchise in Charlotte, NC. He met Chrissy Wallace when she was just 17, while vacationing in Hollywood, Florida through another ABA executive, Ms. Sybrena Foster of Tim Hardaway's Florida Pitbulls.
Hughes then asked graphic artist Chris Drew to interpret his concept of a racing jacket inspired by Chrissy's daredevil racing style. Hughes' now owns the Spyders ABA basketball franchise that begins play this season with Phillip "Hot Sauce" Champion as the star player.
