A career that extended over three decades has finally been recognized! NASCAR veteran, Ricky Rudd is the upcoming proponent of the much-coveted NASCAR Hall of Fame. Embarking on a historic streak of at least one win across 16 consecutive years isn’t easy. However, he did not have quite the friendship with another Richard Childress star – Dale Earnhardt Sr.

Earnhardt Sr’s return to Richard Childress Racing wasn’t the ideal scenario for Rudd, given that both were at the prime of their career. While Rudd never openly expressed his disappointment, those close to the situation could sense it. Here’s what team owner Richard Childress had to say about the Cold War that might have unfurled.

Rudd might have felt sidelined by RCR after Earnhardt took over

Richard Childress Racing was not always among the top-tier teams as we see it today. The start was quite bumpy and it was during this time that Ricky Rudd had joined hands with Childress. After a seemingly good run, Rudd hit a slump in 1981. This is when he was replaced by Bobby Allison at DiGard Motorsports. Fortunately, he landed a ride at Richard Childress Racing and embarked on a new journey. Little did he know at the time Dale Earnhardt was being prepared to take the team to new heights after his short tenure.

Ricky Rudd stepped into the shoes and he accounted for consecutive poles at Daytona, Richmond, Virginia, and Rockingham. He had also led the team to its first victory with the season’s 13th race at Riverside International Raceway. However, for the 1984 season, Rudd and Dale Earnhardt Sr swapped rides. The move followed Earnhardt’s signing with Childress, leaving Rudd frustrated. Interestingly the Hall of Famer had expressed his feelings to Dale Jr. and this is why he wanted to get to the root of this story inthe  presence of Richard Childress. When Jr. asked if Rudd felt “sour” being replaced by his father, this is what Childress said, “No, but I could tell it. He never said it, but I could tell it. I’m proud to see him go into the Hall of Fame”. 

He further added how it was always on the cards that Dale Earnhardt Sr. would come back to the team as and when the times were right. The RCR owner further added, “Yeah, we had. The opportunity came along with Wrangler for us to reunite. That’s how it happened—I can’t remember that guy’s name right now, but I see him. He ended up sponsoring Bud Moore and us.” This doesn’t mean that Childress doesn’t appreciate the contribution of Rudd. Acknowledging the impact he had, Childress added, “Even today I can’t thank Ricky enough for what he did for RCR. Those were the breaking points that we needed to get both of our careers jump-started. I think it was a great time for both of us.”

Rudd’s tenure in Bud Moore was quite a significant part of his career. Soon after he took up the No. 15 Ford, Rudd met with a horrific clash during the Busch Clash at Daytona. He kept on racing and even had his eyes taped open. His perseverance paid off with a victory in just his second start at Richmond. Consequently, he improved his points standings over the next few seasons, achieving a career-best 5th place in 1986. After securing two more wins in 1987, Rudd parted ways with Moore at the season’s end.

Rudd’s perseverance is a testimony to his undying passion for the sport

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There have been two times that Rudd met with horrific accidents on the road and still made it a point to get back to the tracks. While one of them was at Daytona, the other happened where he was left with second degree burns. At Martinsville Speedway in 1985, he was exposed to second degree burns, while driving. The cooling system of the car gave up, after which circulation to the helmet met with a preliminary setback.

Pouring water to his helmet, the incident backfired and he was in scalding water for the rest of his drive. But Rudd wasn’t the one to give up. Not only did he finish the race, he won it. After such an illustrated effort which has surfaced time and again throughout his career, a pathway to NASCAR Hall of Fame was long awaited. 

An ecstatic Rudd shared his feelings about the Hall of Fame addition, “All of a sudden, I got a huge percentage of the votes. When I looked at it [the letter], I said, I didn’t even remember that. Those were some good numbers (laughing). I don’t know if anyone ever read it or saw it. But someone was going to bat for me hard and I have no idea who it was.” With resilience etched into his legacy, Rudd’s long-overdue recognition is not just an honor, it’s a testament to his grit.