Ricky Rudd returns to Yates in the #28, Mars Candy as sponsor
Quote selected text Published December 10th, 2006 in NASCAR News
Ricky Rudd’s self-imposed vacation from racing is over.
After nearly a year off from NASCAR Nextel Cup racing, Rudd and Robert Yates have agreed to join forces once again in what will prove to be more than just a nostalgic joyride down memory lane. Rudd, 50, replaces Dale Jarrett, his former teammate at Robert Yates Racing for three seasons starting in 2000. Jarrett has since joined Michael Waltrip Racing. Butch Hylton will continue in his role as the Yates team’s crew chief.
Yates introduced the No. 88 in 1995, but in what could be a strange, yet positive, turn of events, it’s likely Rudd will be reviving his former car number — the 28 — one of the most popular numbers in NASCAR. RYR first carried the No. 28 when the team was purchased from Ranier Racing in 1988. Davey Allison, Ernie Irvan and Kenny Irwin drove the No. 28 Texaco Havoline Ford, but after the sponsor moved to Ganassi Racing and Rudd left Yates at the end of 2002, the number hasn’t been used.
The candy giant Mars, which already sponsors Yates’ No. 38 M&M’s Ford, also will back Rudd’s effort.
During Rudd’s earlier tenure at RYR, he scored three wins, 34 top fives, 53 top 10s and four poles. Rudd finished in the top five in the point standings the first two years and wound up in 10th place after a tumultuous 2002 season.
Although Rudd and Yates did not part on the best of terms, much has changed in the last four years. While Yates still has some of the best engines in NASCAR, his race program has suffered over the past season with the loss of general manager Eddie D’Hondt last spring, the resignations of drivers Jarrett and Elliott Sadler and the defection of sponsor UPS. It has been a humbling experience for Yates, but with the return of right-hand man Todd Parrott and the addition of rising star David Gilliland, the potential is there to turn the organization around.
Rudd certainly will be key in the rebuilding process. In 31 seasons at the Cup level, Rudd has won 23 races, and hen has posted 194 top-fives and 373 top 10s. His experience will be invaluable to both Gilliland and Yates’ Busch driver Stephen Leicht, who both have limited seat time at NASCAR’s top levels.
Bookmark to:
- Snickers, Mars considers ending Yates sponsorship
- Yates eyes possible 3-car team
- Mars candy to sponsor Kyle Busch’s No 18 in 2008-UPDATE
- Yates deciding on car number, Rudd would prefer #28
- Gilliland in Line to Replace Sadler at Yates?
My comment for this ended up on Daytona International Speedway being renamed for the Harvicks when really it should be renamed for Dale Earnhardt if anyone…………….
I never seen this coming. I never thought that these two would be working together again.
Will be good to see the number 28 back on the track again.. The number alone has a great fan base .With some up to date set-ups from maybe Biffle might put them close to the front……
What a great thing to hapen to RYR and Nascar. Yates gets the driver it truely needs at this most trying time. And, it seems that Nascar has changed alittle too fast for my taste lately. It is refreshing to see some familar faces, and hopefully numbers (28), to keep this fan interested in the sport.
Ricky Rudd, Ricky Rudd, glad to see you back Ricky
Rudd. Last year was the worst season. Young kiss ass
corporate drivers. The biggest one won the cup. NBC
broadcasts of the race were as usual a joke. We’ll be
back to watch for a while again this year (Turned off all
contact with NASCAR half way through the season last
year)Ricky is a class act. He’s not everyones favorite
driver but no one hates to see him do well or win.
Go Ricky Go!!