Rudd to Penske or Retire? no to Ganassi: Ricky Rudd said yesterday he has agreed to take the [#2] ride with Roger Penske, replacing Rusty Wallace next season, if Penske can't wrangle Kurt Busch from Jack Roush. "Roger and I have talked, but I really don't know how it will all work out," Rudd said. "We're all waiting to see. I'd really planned to leave the sport at the end of the season," Rudd said, revealing his plans after months of speculation. "And I told Eddie Wood (his car owner) that over the summer. But we were running so well that we didn't want to say anything. But then the phone started ringing. However there is only one man I'd answer the phone for." Penske, "If Roger needs me, I'll take the ride," Rudd said. Penske has signed Busch to drive in 2007 and wants Busch for 2006. But Roush won't release Busch unless car owner Chip Ganassi releases Jamie McMurray to take Busch's ride with Roush. And Ganassi won't release McMurray unless he can land another top driver: the top two names mentioned are Labonte and Rudd. But Rudd said yesterday he wasn't interested in taking the ride with Ganassi. So unless Ganassi can persuade Labonte to sign, it appears Penske is left with Wallace's seat still to fill. Rudd said he'll take that seat for one final season if Penske says he needs him.(Winston Salem Journal)(11-5-2005)