08-20-2002, 06:12 PM
Rudd to jump to Wood Brothers in 2003
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Eddie and Len Wood announced Tuesday that Ricky Rudd, considered the key player in the ongoing Winston Cup Silly Season shuffle, would drive their No. 21 Motorcraft Ford for the next three years, beginning in 2003.
The 45-year-old veteran is considered a prime catch for the Woods. As far back as the end of May, Eddie Wood said that Rudd was at the top of his short list of prospective drivers to replace the departing Elliott Sadler.
Rudd has amassed 23 victories, 28 Bud Poles and 185 top-five and 353 top-10 finishes in 754 starts.
Rudd is also the Winston Cup Series' current bookmark in terms of longevity and consistency. His streak of 667 straight starts is the best in the series' 54-year history.
The Wood Brothers team, founded by Eddie and Len Wood's father Glen and his brother, Leonard, has 97 wins in 1,065 starts since 1953. In more recent times, they have struggled with only three of those wins coming in the last 12 years -- one each by Dale Jarrett, Morgan Shepherd and Sadler.
In his 28-year career Rudd has driven for some of the most noted car owners in the sport, including Richard Childress, Bud Moore, Rick Hendrick and his current owner, Robert Yates.
He drove a No. 15 Motorcraft Ford for Moore from 1985-1987, winning five times.
Rudd also spent six years driving his own cars, and won six times between 1994 and 1999 when he extended a 16-year streak of winning at least one race a season.
Earlier this season, Rudd -- who has finished in the top five in the Winston Cup standings his two previous years with Yates -- had said his options included returning to Yates' team to continue in the No. 28 Havoline Ford, retiring or seeking other employment.
When it became clear that Yates had opted to maintain his two-car operation with Sadler driving a newly minted No. 38 M&M's Ford, Rudd began juggling his options. As recently as last week, he seemed close to a possible deal with car owner Chip Ganassi to continue driving a Havoline-sponsored No. 28 car.
With Yates announcing last weekend at Michigan International Speedway that he would repudiate his association with the No. 28 at the end of this season, it now remains to be seen where Havoline will land.
<small>[ August 20, 2002, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: FutureChip2004 ]</small>
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Eddie and Len Wood announced Tuesday that Ricky Rudd, considered the key player in the ongoing Winston Cup Silly Season shuffle, would drive their No. 21 Motorcraft Ford for the next three years, beginning in 2003.
The 45-year-old veteran is considered a prime catch for the Woods. As far back as the end of May, Eddie Wood said that Rudd was at the top of his short list of prospective drivers to replace the departing Elliott Sadler.
Rudd has amassed 23 victories, 28 Bud Poles and 185 top-five and 353 top-10 finishes in 754 starts.
Rudd is also the Winston Cup Series' current bookmark in terms of longevity and consistency. His streak of 667 straight starts is the best in the series' 54-year history.
The Wood Brothers team, founded by Eddie and Len Wood's father Glen and his brother, Leonard, has 97 wins in 1,065 starts since 1953. In more recent times, they have struggled with only three of those wins coming in the last 12 years -- one each by Dale Jarrett, Morgan Shepherd and Sadler.
In his 28-year career Rudd has driven for some of the most noted car owners in the sport, including Richard Childress, Bud Moore, Rick Hendrick and his current owner, Robert Yates.
He drove a No. 15 Motorcraft Ford for Moore from 1985-1987, winning five times.
Rudd also spent six years driving his own cars, and won six times between 1994 and 1999 when he extended a 16-year streak of winning at least one race a season.
Earlier this season, Rudd -- who has finished in the top five in the Winston Cup standings his two previous years with Yates -- had said his options included returning to Yates' team to continue in the No. 28 Havoline Ford, retiring or seeking other employment.
When it became clear that Yates had opted to maintain his two-car operation with Sadler driving a newly minted No. 38 M&M's Ford, Rudd began juggling his options. As recently as last week, he seemed close to a possible deal with car owner Chip Ganassi to continue driving a Havoline-sponsored No. 28 car.
With Yates announcing last weekend at Michigan International Speedway that he would repudiate his association with the No. 28 at the end of this season, it now remains to be seen where Havoline will land.
<small>[ August 20, 2002, 07:13 PM: Message edited by: FutureChip2004 ]</small>