Wrong side of the track: the combination of old-school driver Ricky Rudd and old-school owner Wood Brothers Racing has Rudd in a new position: back of the pack

Sporting News, The, August 16, 2004 by Stephen Thomas

"Fierce competitor. Don't make him mad in the car because if you upset him, he will get you. He races clean, he races fair, and he's a real good guy, but if you treat him wrong, you better look out. He has a tremendous feel for the car, and he usually is very good getting the car set up, getting the feel he needs.

I have more respect for some of the drivers from that era than I do a lot of the guys today because they earned it. They were such a big part of the equation on why teams had success. But there's nothing wrong with Ricky Rudd. You put Ricky Rudd in any one of these top cars, he's going to be right up front again."