Rudd enjoys memories, but glad retirement is here
By SceneDaily Staff Report
Monday, November 19, 2007
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HOMESTEAD, Fla. - Ricky Rudd talked about his Brickyard 400 victory in 1997, about all the friends he's made in the sport, about what a "mediocre" day he had in the Ford 400.
Rudd ended his full-time career as a driver in Sunday's Nextel Cup race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but the veteran said he was happy it was over.
"Everyone is asking me [about my emotions], but I guess I'm such a cold-hearted guy because it really didn't affect me," Rudd said Sunday after finishing 21st for Robert Yates Racing. "Right now it's probably starting to sink in a little bit that this is the last time I'll be in Miami in a race car - at least in a Cup car for sure. Who knows what the future holds, but I've got no regrets. I've enjoyed it for 32 years."
Rudd is leaving the sport after 906 starts and 23 victories since he began driving in 1975.
"A lot of people ask me, 'What's that special moment? Any special moments that highlight that career?'" Rudd said. "And I have to go back, and the Brickyard 400 win was a pretty neat deal as an owner and a driver."
Rudd won the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a race car he owned, one of six races he won for Rudd Performance Motorsports. But Rudd has other memories about his time in NASCAR.
"I think the bigger picture is all the people I've met in the garage over the years and racing against the best drivers in the world," Rudd said. "The young guys, the old guys, I've seen a lot of guys and a lot of race car drivers and guys that I've had a lot of respect for over the years, and I've had a chance to race these guys.
"It's time to hang it up and call it quits and as far as emotional, not really. I'm glad this chapter is closed to be honest."
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