2007 champion ricky rudd
ricky rudd
Ricky Rudd (born September 12, 1956 in Norfolk County, Virginia, now Chesapeake) is a NASCAR driver. He is the uncle of actor Skeet Ulrich and Busch Series driver Jason Rudd. Rudd is tied with Rusty Wallace for the longest streak of consecutive seasons with a victory, his lasting from 1983 to 1998.
Rudd is known as the “Ironman” of NASCAR, holding the record for most consecutive starts in NASCAR racing. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, Rudd has made 788 consecutive starts, and has a total of 23 wins, 194 top 5’s, and 373 top 10’s. He was named the 2006 “Virginian of the Year” and inducted into the 2007 “Virginia Hall of Fame.”
Rudd spent most of 2006 out of racing, racing only at Dover, where he filled in for the ailing Tony Stewart. Late in the season, it was announced he would return to Yates to drive the #88 Snickers Ford full-time. His best finish since his return to the sport was a seventh at the Coca-Cola 600. Rudd has stated that he intends to retire for good at the end of 2007.
