Ricky Rudd Update:
Ricky Rudd 'taking a break': from the Rickyrudd.com site:
“With the announcement yesterday that Kurt Busch will be driving the #2 Penske Dodge next year, I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my plans for the future.
“First, let me say that discussions between me and the Penske organization about driving the #2 car next year came up very recently and after I already had decided to take a break from racing for a time. As I have told many of you before, 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, but I did not want my plans to become a distraction to the Team. We have been running very well. The Wood Brothers and the Team deserved an opportunity to maximize the results for the remainder of the season. Eddie Wood and I talked some time ago, and he was comfortable with this approach.
“As I said, the opportunity to possibly drive the #2 car in 2006 came up only recently. I had previously turned down several other opportunities to drive for teams and owners I respect, but the Penske opportunity was unique, and maybe the only offer that would have made me consider changing my plans to step back for a time. The thing that made the offer unique was not often does the opportunity come along to step into a Championship contending car with just a one year driving obligation. In my view, however, the way this has worked out is to everyone’s benefit. I get to take the break I was planning to take and the #2 team gets to do what is best for them and their sponsors long term. I am happy that I was able to provide them with a good alternative in case Kurt was not able to drive the #2 car next year, but quite frankly - for me and my family - the way it has turned out is a much better result.
“I really enjoy racing for the Wood Brothers -- they are great people. Since Michael McSwain has come on board as crew chief our cars have been extremely competitive -- we have not always had very good racing luck, but the cars are very capable of winning races and with a little bit of racing luck, I really think we could have been solidly in the top 10 this year. I still have the desire and ability to win races, but a little burn out is beginning to set in. I may drive a few races next year if someone needs a substitute driver, but its time to “freshen up” and do some things with my family that I have put off for a lot of years. I still have the ability to drive a race car and be competitive—I think we can win a race before this year ends.
“However, if I were to decide never to drive again, I have had a great career. My hat is off to NASCAR for making the sport what it is today, but I particularly would like to thank all the great sponsors and car owners who put their trust in me and made my career possible, people like Junie Dunlevy, Richard Childress, Bud Moore, Kenny Bernstein, Rick Hendrick, Robert Yates and the Woods. I have been privileged to drive for some of the best. I also want to thank all of the talented and dedicated people I have worked with in racing over the years, the crew chiefs and the crew members, who put in so much time and effort to give me competitive cars.
“And to you the fans – I especially want to thank you all. I cannot begin to tell you how much their support has meant over the years. Without you, none of this would be possible. Your backing for this sport and for me have made it all very worthwhile and have kept me going for many years. I feel your energy and support every time I am around you. You have showed how much you care about my family and me by expressing your thoughts and feelings on our web site fan forum. We have always followed the forum since it’s creation. Thank you for your time and thoughts on our behalf. We will always be grateful to you no matter what the future holds.
“And, I want to thank Winston, which for so many years made the sport possible, and Nextel, which will carry racing into the future.
“But most of all, I want to thank my family, whose support and patience carried me when things were not quite as comfortable as they are today.
“Many of you know how I started in racing -- a family team supported without sponsorship. The early years were real tough. We raced when we could scrape up enough money to race, which was not very often in the beginning. We traveled all around the country in a pick-up truck pulling an open trailer with one racecar. We slept five or six to a hotel room, tore down engines in the hotel room, ate more fast food than I care to remember, but somehow made it work. I will always be grateful to my family, who had enough faith in me to spend all those years trying to put together a race team.
“I am especially grateful to my father, who passed away a few months ago, for his unconditional support and encouragement not only early on, but, throughout my career. His passing has been a very sad event in our lives, and I think it has contributed to my desire to take a little time off.
“Finally, I want to thank Linda, my wife, and Landon, my son. What can I say about them? Linda has been my best friend since we were kids. She has watched me flip cars, hit walls, say things that perhaps I should have kept to myself, and through it all, she has been there for me. For most of my career she has been able to travel with me, and her support, good advice and love have been the glue that has held this whole thing together. Landon has been a real joy in our lives. He had to put up with Dad not being home often enough, and he has been a real trooper. I am looking forward to a little private time with both of them.
“I hope this clarifies things. I am not going far. I will be around.”
From the Rickrudd.com site.(11-8-2005)
