Down in the Pits: Will Rudd call it a career?
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There have been rumors that Ricky Rudd is dissatisfied with NASCAR, Fox and the young guns on tour. There has even been talk that he is considering retirement. Considering the fact that Rudd has restored a certain degree of prestige back to the 28 car, that’s a shame. Although he has yet to win a race this season, he has five top five finishes and should have had a win except for Rusty Wallace, who put him in the wall while Rudd was leading.
Rudd has denied that he has announced his intentions to retire or even made a decision, but at the age of 45, he says that he doesn’t intend to run that much longer.
Another reason that there has been a lot of speculation about Rudd’s retirement is this is the last year on a three-year contract with Robert Yates. With Rudd, who just became the Iron Man of NASCAR by racing consecutive races since the mid-’80s, he’s not going to settle for a second-class ride.
The question now becomes one of can experience beat youthful exuberance. Through the first thirteen races of this NASCAR season, the answer to that has been no. Sterling Marlin has won two races, Mark Martin has won one, and that’s it for the older generation.
Matt Kenseth has won two, rookie Jimmie Johnson has won two, Tony Stewart has won two, Kurt Busch has won one and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. has one win. The way I count it, that’s eight to three in favor of the thirty or under bunch. The other two wins went to Ward Burton and Bobby Labonte. Neither of those guys classifies as junior citizens nor as senior citizens, but they are well-experienced drivers.
Many fans don’t think that the young guys have paid their dues, and it’s true that they haven’t. But they do have good equipment, and they’re showing that they know how to drive. They sure aren’t showing much respect for their elders.
It’s a certainty that even if Rudd stays on, he’s not going to sign a long-term contract with anybody. The rumor also goes that Robert Yates is chomping at the bit to sign Kevin Harvick, the new bad boy of stock-car racing. Last year when Harvick took over after Dale Earnhardt’s death, he showed that he had what it takes to win. He has no respect for the NASCAR hierarchy. Yates’ problem is that he’s got two aging drivers in Dale Jarrett and Rudd. I think the fans would love to see a one-year deal between Rudd and Yates, so Rudd can end his career with the 28 car.
Many of the older drivers feel that NASCAR is playing up the new drivers that are coming on the circuit and that they’re doing that through the television coverage of Fox. They don’t feel that they or their sponsors are getting the same camera time and recognition as the new guys on the block.
The ones I’ve mentioned aren’t the only ones that have to be concerned about their job security. Petty Enterprises has already fired Buckshot Jones and Hendrick Motor Sports has terminated Jerry Nadeau in the 25 car. Elliot Sadler has received his release from the 21 car owned by the Woods brothers, but has agreed to continue on for the rest of the season. Somebody’s going to snap him up. I’m betting on the Pettys or maybe he’ll take over the ride in the No. 1 car for Richard Childress.
Whatever happens, you can be sure of one thing. There’s not a lot of job security in NASCAR right now and this is about as early silly season has ever started.