Russ Wallace, patriarch of the Wallace family, passes away

Rusty, Mike and Kenny Wallace - the proud sons of "Big Russ" Wallace.

Russ Wallace, patriarch of the Wallace racing dynasty that includes sons Rusty, Mike, Kenny and numerous grandchildren, passed away yesterday after suffering from heart failure. “Big Russ” was 77 years old.

Long before his sons were racing, Russ himself took to the track racing over 200 dirt features in a four-year span.

Mike Wallace once said that even though racing was a hobby to his father, "it was a professional hobby."

Kenny Wallace said recently that he and his brothers owed theirs careers to their father, who taught them their tireless work ethic and that style of driving that is both respected and feared by their competitors - who knew Russ Wallace would bump them out of the way if he thought it was the only way he could get by them on the track.

Fans of the Wallace family have been rallying all week, lending their virtually support via twitter and Facebook, sending their thoughts and prayers to the family.

Today came the news from Kenny himself via Twitter, "Today was the Hardest day of my life because my Dad "Russ" is gone, He molded me and my brothers to be race car drivers."

Skirts and Scuffs would like to send our condolences to the Wallace family.