Veteran NASCAR Driver Mike Wallace Brutally Beaten After Concert, Daughter Also Attacked
Mike Wallace, 57, veteran NASCAR driver and brother to Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace and retired driver and current FOX race analyst Kenny Wallace, is recovering after a vicious attack suffered at the hands of three men following a Rascal Flatts concert in Charlotte, North Carolina on Friday night. Wallace’s daughter, Lindsey Wallace Van Wingarden, was also injured in the incident.
According to statements made to USA Today by Kenny Wallace, Mike Wallace and his wife, along with Lindsey and her husband, were leaving Charlotte’s PNC Music Pavilion following a Rascal Flatts concert on Friday when the assault occurred.
“Mike was talking to one of the three men and then, out of nowhere, one came after Mike like a crazy man. Mike was knocked out completely cold. While he was on the ground they continued to beat on him, kicking him in the face.”
While Kenny Wallace says he has no idea what started the confrontation, Mike Wallace took to his personal Facebook page to recount the events that occurred that night.
“I normally would not post personal affairs but this is to help and give advice to our friends, do not ever talk to a group of now what appeared to be drunk or drugged up young adult men or women when you’re trying to get in your car to leave the un guarded PNC amphitheater in Charlotte, NC parking lot after a good Rascal Flatts concert. This is what I looked like after I was knocked out and crap beat out of me. The ambulance driver took this picture we were just supposed to have a fun night. I want to thank my family and friends for helping to protect me from a worse beating as I layed unconscious on the ground.
“What’s worse is three of guys that beat my family up were arrested and out of jail before we were out of the hospital.”
According to motorsport.com, the three men involved in the assault of Mike Wallace and Lindsey Wallace Van Wingarden were arrested and taken into custody. 22-year-old Nathan Lucas of Indian Trail, N.C. and Randolph Mangum of Monroe, N.C. were charged with simple assault and released on $1,000 bond. Paul Lucas was charged with assault on a female and released on a $1,500 secured bond. All three are due in Mecklenburg County District Court on July 22.
Heres LADY BEATER. He is the President Of the Company. This man kicked “Lindsey Wallace”. This is Public Knowledge pic.twitter.com/xd5oGhXS3P
— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) June 19, 2016
The company referred to in Kenny Wallace’s tweet is Lucas Landscaping, whose truck was identified by Mike Wallace in his Facebook post.
“The white truck they were driving had the business name of LUCAS LANDSCAPING – Indian Trails, NC on the doors, so be careful according to the CMPD this is the third time this year at PNC this group has been involved in an altercation.
“Everyone please be careful in the future and take care of your friends that you go somewhere with.”
Kenny Wallace has been very active on his Twitter account over the weekend in an effort to bring negative attention to the three men and the company.
Thank you to very influential @NASCAR people that are sending me ALL this info. I wouldn’t know where to start. pic.twitter.com/OJ6udIXGMe
— Kenny Wallace (@Kenny_Wallace) June 19, 2016
Mike Wallace competed in 197 Sprint Cup Series races over a career that spanned more than two decades. While he never got a win, he did have 14 top ten finishes. Wallace also competed regularly in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and has four wins and 66 top tens to his credit in 494 career starts. Mike also owns five wins and 56 top tens in 115 races in the NASCAR World Camping Truck Series.
Mike Wallace has not raced since undergoing triple-bypass heart surgery in April of 2015.
[Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images]
