I think Ricky Rudd is very underrated. Yes, he isn’t the greatest of all time but he is a very talented driver who will make your team better just by adding him. He’s kinda like the Kurt Busch of the Winston Cup era of NASCAR.
2002 was the wackiest NASCAR season ever. Sterling Marlin tried to fix his fender under the red flag at the Daytona 500. Ward Burton wins the Daytona 500. Harvick gets suspended for a race. Dale Jr and Steve Park wrecked on the first lap of the July Pocono race. Jamie Mac wins in his 3rd start. Ricky Rudd gets punched. And Jimmie Johnson gets wrecked out of Talladega by Mark Martin before the race even started.
Of course on that same Talladega race, ALL Hendrick powered teams experienced engine issues and exited out of the race. Black Flags Matter did a video on that.
McMurray won in his 2nd start. Also in 2002, Sterling Marlin got injured while leading the points which opened the flood gates for Mark Martin, Jimmie Johnson, and Tony Stewart.
I remember this happening almost 20 years ago, that was just plain dumb. Ricky getting that black eye was uncalled for. I mean why would they fine Ricky for getting assaulted?? He was one of my fav drivers during that Era.
@@ethanweeter2732its not a sucker punch for fuck sake. Ok for last time I'll explain a "sucker punch". A sucker punch is one that can't be defended calls your not looking. If you are looking the guy in the face yelling back and forth ITS NOT A SUCKER PUNCH!! Unless you thank you should have to yell "ok im swinging on you now, are you ready for my punch? I'm using my right fist,ok you ready?"
Ricky belongs in the hall of fame. 23 career cup wins and at least 1 win for 16 consecutive seasons. He never won a championship because he was never in the right place at the right time but he drove the wheels off of every car he drove and he competed well through his mid 40s when the sport was being dominated by a bunch of younger drivers
I agree, but there are a lot of names nascar just doesn't want to put in. Smokey Yunick, should have been in like 8 years ago, Harry Hyde should have been in years ago, Jimmy Fennig should have been a first ballad. Then you have arguably the greatest team owner ever, and I bet the hall of Fame voters probably never heard of him. (Carl Kiekaefer). Then there is Carl. Hell Biffle too. So as far as Rudd goes, should be be in, absolutely. But nascar's hall of Fame voters can't drive a stick
@@ashketchumsdad They sadly won't let Yunick and Kiekaefer in the HOF because Bill Sr accused both of them cheating multiple times at some point in their career in the sport.
The Iron Man for a while iirc what a legend look at that poise and respect during that interview. Rusty, Rudd, Gordon, Spencer, Gordon, Stewart, Harvick, Kenseth, Ward Burton and Ward Burton. In a class of their own.
lol kinda my thoughts too. I remember watching all this but still today thinking I can’t believe anyone would throw a punch at the Rooster. Dude was a BAMF
One thing that might’ve played a small part in this was the fact that earlier in his career, Ricky was ousted from RCR in favor of Dale Earnhardt after he had helped turn that team into a contender. My thinking is that the RYR deal with Sadler might’ve brought up some of those old feelings. After watching that season, I honestly think Ricky might’ve had a leg to stand on with what he said about those engines.
Story about Ricky... he was in town for the Bristol event around 1982(?) and came to the Bristol Mall when the Cub Scouts were running Pinewood Derby cars. He made a lot of fans that day.
My favorite driver of all time. Was never quite in the right place at the right time, but drove the wheels off of everything he drove, and was one of the last of the old school iron men in the sport.
Well I don't blame Rudd Yates fell off a cliff in 2002, As a Sadler fan he did the best he could in Ricky's Ride, Considering Yates was not the same caliber of team that it was in the 90s. Granted they didn't fall as hard as Morgan McClure but it was still bad.
Morgan McClure was a home town team in my area. It was very sad to watch that team fall under that fast and hard. I wish they could have recovered. I miss Robert Yates. I always lived that team.
@@sicfrynut Davey was a great driver. I remember one race where he was running second to his father Bobby. It was at a high speed track and on the last lap Davey was going make on run on his dad and try to beat him to the finish line. Around turn three he tried to slingshot past his dad but couldn't do it. His voice load on TV from to his pit was, " he's to strong and I can't get around him". It was a father , son finish and one I'll always remember
I was a huge Davey Allison fan when I first started watching NASCAR but we all know the tragedy that struck..After that I just cheered for the #28..Such a shame the whole thing is gone now.
The fact that someone punched Ricky Rudd, a man so tough even Dale Earnhardt was afraid to cross him, and lived to tell the tale is a miracle in and of itself. There's a damn good reason why they called him "The Rooster."
Because he was surrounded by a group of people and it was on camera haha I’m sure if they would have been alone the rooster definitely would have given him the claws
@@00petrified001 How many road races did he win? How many also ran teams did he have to drive for? Jarret was very good on ovals and restrictor plate tracks. Not taking anything away from DJ (former champ and 3x Daytona 500's) but Rudd had to go into races with many more second or third rate cars than Jarret, much of it during a time when fewer cars had any legit chance to win. Rudd's daddy wasn't a admired former champ opening doors for him. If success is measured in win stats, DJ wins the day. If you look over their complete careers, who they drove for, the quality of the rides, DJ had a silver platter career and Rudd fought, kicked and gouged his way through many also ran rides, though many more years.
Probably should have added the part where him and Dale Earnhardt used to hang out hunting and fishing until Dale snagged his ride at Richard Childress Racing. Things like that leave scars but the guy knew his stuff about racing.
I wouldn't say Dale snagged his ride, the ride was Earnhardt's before it was Rudd's. Dale drove for Richard briefly I think at some point in either 1981 or early 82 & they at the time couldn't make it work so he & Childress mutually parted ways with the promise that once RCR had better equipment to put under Dale that they would reunite. Turned out better cause you think Childress wins all those races & 6 Winston Cups with Rudd behind the wheel...
@@vinewood8295 Ricky could have won a title or two, but not 6. Kirk was a great crew chief though. As was Andy Petree. Ricky always seemed to be at teams at the wrong time. He was at RCR before they got good, at Bud Moore before they got a little better, the 26 was never elite, but he and Larry Mac made that team competitive, then he got to HMS before Gordon and that era.
@@ethanweeter2732 HMS was title capable during Rudd's time there, Darrell Waltrip proved that, Rudd just wasn't a championship caliber driver. He got to Robert Yates Racing the year after Jarrett won them their first title as a team, what happened that season, he never had it in him to win a season title... Just my opinion though...
Man that Sonoma race was full of mixed emotions. On one end, you have Ricky Rudd scoring what would end up being his final career win. On the other, you have yet another heartbreaking loss for Jerry Nadeau.
Ricky Rudd always reminded me of Dale Sr. and Tony Stewart imo All three of those drivers were beasts on the track and I miss that in today's NASCAR like it did in the 80's, 90's and early 2000's
To each his own, but it was my least favorite of the Yates Havoline Cars. Davey's full black 28 of the early 90's is my favorite, then the white and black of the late 80's. Something about those Texaco Havoline paint schemes, because I loved the Newman-Hass cars in CART as well.
I’d watched NASCAR since 1997, but 2002’s wildness is what hooked me for life. One of my all time favorite seasons. Even 2001 was a bit odd (even without the unfortunate circumstances at Daytona). 1997-2001 made me a Gordon fan. 2002 made a NASCAR fan. I should add that I was a child during these years. In my kid brain, it was crazy all the things that happened. Then, Bobby flipped at Dega in the polar bear car. WILD.
That race in Sonoma was my first race on 2002. It's weird you made this video because I just bought this diecast, being it was my first race. Great video!
It was from a nasty crash he had the week earlier and his eyes were nearly still swollen shut. He used duct right over his eyebrows too. The guy must have ate nails and gunpowder for breakfast.
Ah yes, replacing Rudd with Sadler, Excellent move! Surely This will keep Yates at the forefront of competitive teams in the sport for the forseeable future. .... oh wait......
I was there Sonoma 2002. I was 9 years old at that race (my first NASCAR race) and had been a Rudd fan since I was 4 years old when his number 10 Tide Ride was on display in front of a local grocery store in Sacramento Ca. While not a championship winner, he had an amazing career and definitely deserves a place in the hall of fame. Loved watching “The Rooster” on TV and I hope he is enjoying retirement.
What an awesome experience man. That was the first race my now wife ever watched with me. We were 15 at the time. So she got to see him win the first time she ever watched nascar with me. I was so heartbroken when he didn’t pass Ken Schrader at Kansas in 03.
Guy is probably lucky NASCAR didn't fine him for being detrimental to NASCAR, lol. I mean why not, if getting punched gets you fined, they'd probably fine you for anything.
Rudd surviving that crash at Daytona in 1984 then driving in the 500 a week later with his eyes taped open is the damnedest thing I remember about him! He survived a crash like that and Earnhardt hits the wall and it kills him.
What was really "detrimental to the sport" was the single network TV contract that went into effect in 2001....... NASCAR still paying the price to this day.
@@NotSteveCook they never work with each other to promote NASCAR when they don't have the races..... no other sport in the last 22 years intentionally reduced its number of TV broadcast partners except NASCAR. Every other major sport still has the same number or has increased them because they know more TV partners equals more vested interest in promoting positively your sport.
I still have a die cast car of Ricky Rudd's Havoline Texaco Ford along with Christian Fittipladi's CART machine with the same sponsorship that I bought at a local Texaco station when I was 5. Those were the first die cast race cars I bought. Loved watching Ricky Rudd as a kid that grew up watching NASCAR along with F1, CART & the WRC. Keep these great videos coming.
I’ve got two of Ricky’s hot wheels 1/24 scale cars. One of his number 10 and one of 28 (yellow and black scheme) while not mint (played with them while I was a kid) but still in great shape I currently have them each framed.
I meant Ricky Rudd he was a class act I enjoyed chit-chatting with him a little bit and he actually paid attention to me when I asked him a couple of questions. I think he made a comment at the end of that race that his engine that night was running kind of flat and it ticked that engine worker off. I think he made that comment while he was being interviewed. he was really really a great driver in that 28 and mercilessly got wrecked by Rusty Wallace several times during that season. to this day I cannot stand Rusty Wallace because of that. I think the racing gods paid back Rusty Wallace when his son Steven proved to be a real dud on the racetrack nearly bankrupted Rusty Wallace.
Lucky they stepped between them right after... If Rudd had any chance at all he would have handled that idiot. The Rooster was a tough SOB and wouldn't start something but wouldn't mind finishing it.
Good video BFM. I was angry about what happened to Ricky but glad he fired back with the water bottle scoring a direct hit. He was a good man and didn't deserve that fine at all. It's a shame a veteran driver was treated like that. Thanks for the video.
Seeing this brought back my childhood! I was a Rudd Freak back to the 10 days. Remember watching my first race as a kid and seeing that bright orange car. Loved this era of racing, miss the iron man Rooster! Was so sad that when Rudd retired that he left the sport all together. We need more Rudd in today's Nascar!
Rudd was my favorite driver when he was driving the Tide car. I thought he could have won alot of races and championships had he been given better equip
Ricky was just in shock for a second trying to figure out what the hell ? Then if there hadn't been 3 guys between them this clown would have had his head handed to him.
I don't really remember there being 5 races he could have won. I'd say he should have won spring Richmond instead of Sonoma. What races are you referring to?
@@ethanweeter2732 DEI sabotaged Jr? I had no idea and I would like to know more. I know he didn't win in 07 and I just thought he had bad luck. Huge revelation to me if he was being sabotaged.
The decisions Yates made around Ricky Rudd that year basically killed his race team. Sadler was a good guy but he wasn’t Ricky Rudd, and ultimately what they were really mad about is that they had a driver telling them the truth: their shit wasn’t as good as it used to be. Ricky was used to getting points with shit equipment from being a driver owner and could drive the crap they were giving him, but they got butthurt that he said it wasn’t title worthy. He was right.
If I remember right Ricky lost his ride to Dale Earnhardt sr. early in his career and had to fight and scratch to compete for years in his own stuff mainly until finally getting another sweet ride at Yates in the end. He was a very good driver. Him and Tide are synonymous. Elliott Sadler was a clear downgrade, he should have been insulted.
Rudd was always a good driver who was almost always competitive and capable of winning the race. And when he didn’t have the car to win he was smart enough to stay out of the way and stay clean
I think everyone was really surprised he didn’t win with the wood brothers. Honestly i thought he’d get at least 1, but I also thought Bobby Labonte would get 1 with petty
Rudd deserved that punch and a few more. You NEVER talk down to your crew or the guys in the shop. They work their asses off day in and day out and from what Fatback has said, Rudd was never at the shop like he should have been, never offered any encouragement and was all around a diva of sorts.
2001 Rudd was a title contender until late while DJ wasn't after the summer. Rudd at moments was stronger than Jarrett but he didn't come over until 2000. Kenny Irwin Jr was still the 28 driver in 1999.
Video idea. I recall a couple years ago you did a video on LW Wright. I think it should be revisited as the man behind the mystery was in a podcast recently
Ricky Rudd was always my favorite as a kid, a guy I worked with knows him. I wanna meet him. He was born in the same city as me (Norfolk, VA) and his birthday is a day ahead of mine (September 11 vs 12). A weird relation but it's the small things. I remember I'd always collect all the #10 Tide cars whenever I went to Toys R Us in the 90s. I used to have a bigger replica car. Honestly Rudd was in the right, I'd have done the same. Not one for violence, but a water bottle... C'mon.
The Rooster was & still is highly underrated as a driver. He, like several past successful-winning driver's, ended up with career number's that were beneath their skill level as a Wheelman. I don't know if it was Bill Jr, or one of his NASCAR executive goon's that had it in for Ricky, but somebody upstairs sure didn't like Mr Rudd, that Sears Point deal with Davey is still one of the biggest hack job's ever put on a driver, I loved Davey Allison, but The Rooster won that race & NASCAR flat screwed him over "HARD" 👎🧐
Alternate title for shits and giggles: *When Ricky Rudd got his shit kicked in like himself* And for the record Jarrett also won the 1st Pocono Race so he scored 2 wins on the season not 1.
Dude that dotted Ricky’s eye should feel fortunate that Ricky kept his cool. Tough as nails, hard-nosed racer. Pretty sure that’s how Ricky would choose to be remembered