Top Row Seat - Atlanta
Dateline: 11/23/99Last week marked the last NASCAR Winston Cup race of the 1900s and the end of an era as Ricky Rudd failed to win.
The Present
For 16 years, beginning with his first win at Riverside in June of 1983, Rudd has won at least one race. In 1999 he just wasn't able to consistently keep it up front. Plagued by mechanical failures and good old fashioned bad luck Ricky just couldn't manage a win.
The Past
Rudd's Winston Cup career began in 1975 where he ran a limited schedule. In 1977 he ran his first full Winston Cup season and drove away with the "Rookie Of The Year" honors. In his career Rudd won races for such notable car owners as Richard Childress, Bud Moore and Rick Hendrick before starting his own team in 1994.
The Future
Next season Rudd will give up the car owner role and take over the driving duties of the #28 Texaco Havoline car owned by Robert Yates. He will not only be upgrading to one of the prime engine builders on the circuit but will also be adding a Championship proven teammate in the form of Dale Jarrett. There is every reason to expect that Rudd will not only return to his winning ways in 2000 but he should also be considered a legitimate top-ten contender in points with an outside shot to win it all.
Vote In The Poll!
How will Ricky Rudd do in 2000?
Remember Rudd's first win? First race? Want to compare him to other greats? Reminisce on the bulletin board. Or you can talk about all things NASCAR in the chat room where I stop by frequently.
