Ricky Rudd

From Encyclopedia Jr, free information reference for Kids

Ricky Rudd in 2005, courtesy of the U.S. Air Force

Ricky Rudd racing at the Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond International Raceway.

Ricky Rudd (born September 12, 1956 in Norfolk County, Virginia, now Chesapeake) is a NASCAR driver. He last drove the #21 car sponsored by Motorcraft and the United States Air Force.

Rudd is known as the "Ironman" of NASCAR, holding the record for most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing. At his retirement, Rudd had made 788 consecutive starts. He is also remembered as one of the "Tide ride" drivers as well as for winning a race in sixteen consecutive seasons (1983 to 1998). Rudd had a total of 23 wins, 194 top 5's, and 373 top 10's. On November 8, 2005, Rudd announced his intention to take a break from racing effective at the end of 2005 season. Ricky Rudd was named the 2006 "Virginian of the Year."

[edit] Trivia

• He appeared in the 1983 Burt Reynolds movie Stroker Ace.
• Rudd was nicknamed "Rooster" in his early years for not taking any abuse from anyone, including the late Dale Earnhardt and current driver Kevin Harvick.
• He started racing in karting at the age of eight, and he won the International Kart Federation championships in 1971, his seventh year of karting. [1]
• Rudd began auto racing at the age of 19. In 2003 he was the most active full-time driver.
• Rudd was the final driver of the number "28" Texaco Havoline Ford Taurus. After Rudd left Robert Yates Racing, Yates assigned the 38 to Elliott Sadler, and Dale Jarrett kept the 88. That left the 28 off the track for the first time in 15 years.
• Rudd's first race car was owned by his uncle and family friend Bill Champion.
• Rudd never raced a car at any level of motorsports until he made his debut at North Carolina Speedway in 1975 in car number 10, owned by former racer Bill Champion.
• Ricky Rudd was involved in a horrific accident in the 1984 Daytona Busch Clash which caused him to have facial injuries and two swollen black and blue eyes. Rudd then raced at Richmond the week after, with his swollen eyes taped open and won for the third time in his career at Richmond.[2]
• Actor Skeet Ulrich is the son of former driver D.K. Ulrich and is Ricky Rudd's nephew.
• During the 1989 Holly Farms 400 at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Rudd attempted to pass the late Dale Earnhardt low in the first turn of the last lap of the race and Rudd ended up wrecking both cars. Both drivers were able to finish 9th and 10th. After the race, crew members of both teams fought on pit road. Earnhardt was furious at Rudd and said he should be suspended for the rest of the season. However, Rudd held his tongue and did not create any bad blood toward Earnhardt.
• At Richmond International Raceway, while racing with Kevin Harvick, the two made contact sending Harvick into the wall. Harvick later confronted Rudd on pit road and Harvick was placed on probation.
• Rudd is the only owner/driver to win the Brickyard 400 (1997).
• He was inducted into the Virginia Motor Sports Hall Of Fame.
• He was Virginia Sportsman of the Year in 1999.
• Ricky Rudd won the 1998 NAPA Autocare 500 on an extremely hot day, and nearly collapsed in Victory Lane. He had suffered second degree burns and was treated in victory lane.
• The win was his 16th year with at least one win in the NEXTEL Cup series, but he would not win the following season.
• Rudd's team was named Rudd Performance Motorsports(RPM).
• As of April 27, 2006, Rudd confirmed that Toyota is courting him. He's honored, but, to date, has politely declined. He said that retirement thing ain't so bad. He is stated as saying he misses the raceday activities but doesn't miss the grind of the 36-race schedule.
• Rudd qualified and practiced the #20 Home Depot car of Tony Stewart during the week of the June 4, 2006, running of the Neighborhood Excellence 400. Stewart had sustained injuries in both the Busch and Nextel Cup races at Lowe's Motor Speedway the previous weekend. Stewart started the race in order to earn the driver points but was replaced by Rudd during the race's first caution. Rudd went on to finish 25th after he was cited for speeding on the pit lane, which he contends on his website..
• Rudd is now testing Toyotas for Wyler Racing.

[edit] Car History

[edit] External links

• Official Ricky Rudd Web Site
• Ricky Rudd Fan Forum
• Ricky Rudd @ Nascar.com
• Ricky Rudd @ racing-reference.info