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May 30, 2021; Concord, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) leads the field on turn 4 during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
May 30, 2021; Concord, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson (5) leads the field on turn 4 during the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Recently, NASCAR uploaded a throwback video that highlighted the career of NASCAR legend, Ricky Rudd. Fondly nicknamed ‘The Rooster’, Rudd has picked up 23 Cup Series wins over a 32-year career.
In addition to that, he has made 906 starts, including 29 poles and 374 Top 10 finishes, and a career-best 2nd in 1991. The first of 23 wins came at the 1983 Budweiser 400 at the now-defunct Riverside International Raceway.
During that race, he dominated so much that he was able to take things easy on the final lap. He confessed that he had waited a long time for the win and it was pretty hard to believe.
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Rudd also revealed that though he and the team had the fastest car, they knew that its only enemy was itself. In other words, he and Richard Childress Racing were afraid of the car breaking down.
The best of Ricky Rudd
Later on, in 1990, he joined the Hendrick Motorsports team. In the same year, he picked up his first win for Hendrick Motorsports at Watkins Glen International. During that race, he managed to finish ahead of the Bodine brothers, Geoff and Brett.
Of course, not all of his wins came at road courses, as he triumphed at the Darlington Raceway in 1991. At that race, he praised the team strategy and the car’s handling.
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Apr 10, 2021; Martinsville, Virginia, USA; NASCAR Cup Series drivers cross the start line during the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Ryan Hunt-USA TODAY Sports
Next on the list was the 1994 race at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. This time, he was up against Dale Earnhardt, who was on a charge after being a lap down.
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This was the 15th win of his career and it was special because it was his first as an owner-driver. Four years later at Martinsville, Rudd was on the hunt for another win but encountered heavy traffic.
Nevertheless, he persevered and took his final win as owner-driver. This was a tough one because his cooler box broke on the opening lap.
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Concerned for his health, the team had a driver on standby, but Ricky Rudd forged ahead. After winning, he had to be pulled out of the car and given first aid by paramedics.
READ MORE: How Ricky Rudd Fulfilled his Indy Dream and Became a NASCAR Star
