Ricky Rudd
Ricky Rudd
Richard L. "Ricky" Rudd, nicknamed "The Rooster", is an American former racing driver. He is the uncle of actor Skeet Ulrich and former NASCAR Busch Series driver Jason Rudd. He retired in 2007 with 23 career wins. He was named the 2006 Virginian of the Year and was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2007. In October 2010, he was selected to the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame, which honors those who have contributed to sports...
ability beginning burnout desire drive family few needs next races substitute time win year
I still have the desire and ability to win races, but a little burnout is beginning to set in. I may drive a few races next year if someone needs a substitute driver, but it's time to freshen up and do some things with my family that I have put off for a lot of years.
based built came car changes excited fast few good guys hang head pleased race run since solid spring truck
We're real pleased with that, ... There is nothing there for the guys to hang their head about. We came off the truck fast and only made a few changes to the car. It started in the spring race with a new car built for this race track. We had a good solid run and I don't think the car has been run since then. Our car will be good on long race runs. I'm more excited about the race than qualifying based on the long runs.
last race three wrecked
We've wrecked out of this race the last three times,
beyond built cars control far favorite past purposely quality race run saying seem stuff track trying types unless whether
Nowadays, as they've been working on the cars and the quality control is getting a lot better, there's not a really a big difference. The cars are built specifically for different types of race tracks, whether it's a high-travel track or low-travel track, and that's what they go by. They go by data. It's past me, way beyond me now. But as far as me saying I've got a favorite car, they're getting stuff more consistent. I don't really see that anymore. They all seem to run about the same - unless they're purposely trying to make one differently, which they can do very easily.
counting created creating drivers fan fans five list nascar race races school succeeded track
NASCAR has created this list of 10 drivers and they have succeeded in creating excitement, but I'm from the old school I'm here to race, ... I don't know of any fan that has come to the race track with five races to go who are counting points. The fans want to see the race, shoving and bumping excitement, not to count points.
brothers contract nearly perfect race seemed sick step taken time vacation wood
I have not taken a vacation or sick day in nearly 30 years of racing, and with my contract with the Wood Brothers expiring at the end of this race season, it seemed like the perfect time to step back and take a break.
advantage allow few guys percent race rules run setup sort spent structure surprised time took within yesterday
I'm really sort of surprised at this run because we spent 98 percent of our time yesterday working on race setup and I got really comfortable with what I had there, ... Within the rules structure they allow you to do a few things for qualifying and the guys took advantage of that.
clean good great guys job last lucky nose race sort spot stay three track tried trouble wrecked
The guys did a great job in the pits, ... We just sort of tried to stay out of trouble. We've wrecked out of this race like the last three times. It's usually been a good race track for us and we were lucky we got a good qualifying spot and just tried to keep our nose clean all night.
years careers race
I may drive in a few races next year if someone needs a substitute driver ... (but) if I were never to drive again, I have had a great career.
allowing beer check compete drink everybody might sit stands thanks watch
Thanks everybody for allowing me to compete with y'all. I'll come out here and check on y'all. I might even sit up in the stands and drink a beer and watch everybody.
tony wish work
I wish it could have been a little better, better than Tony ran, ... But it didn't work out that way.
fans kept none support thank worthwhile
I especially want to thank the fans -- without them, none of this would be possible, and their support for this sport and for me have made it all very worthwhile and have kept me going for many years,
came casey damage easy fender front guess lucky mistake running worse
Casey came over and apologized. I guess he made a mistake, and it's very easy to make a mistake when you're running three-wide like that. It's pretty intense. I'd say he slipped up and made a mistake and I guess we're lucky the damage isn't worse than what it is. These front fenders are so sensitive. We did get our right front fender banged a little bit.
came casey damage easy fender front guess lucky mistake running worse
Casey came over and apologized, ... I guess he made a mistake, and it's very easy to make a mistake when you're running three-wide like that. It's pretty intense. I'd say he slipped up and made a mistake and I guess we're lucky the damage isn't worse than what it is. These front fenders are so sensitive. We did get our right front fender banged a little bit.