Dale Jarrett feels he has an excellent chance to score a fourth Daytona 500 win. Credit: Autostock

Jarrett, Rudd feel they can be competitive

Retirement not on their minds heading into Speeedweeks

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Questions that contain the "R" word are inevitable for athletes and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series racecar drivers are no exception.

For the drivers past their 45th birthday, those questions will come like rain this season due to retirement announcements by Rusty Wallace, Mark Martin and Terry Labonte.

Ricky Rudd felt a surge of confidence after a solid second half in 2004. Credit: Autostock

But Rudd and Jarrett -- and even Kyle Petty, whose first Cup Series start came in 1979 -- dispelled thoughts of retiring in the near future last week.

Petty spoke for either trio and indeed, virtually every driver in a NASCAR garage when he said driving racecars was still by far his favorite activity.

Rudd and Jarrett spoke at greater length in saying thoughts of retirement were not in the front of their mind.

"The kind of season we had last year proved to me that we can still be competitive," Rudd said. "The race that we had (with Joe Nemechek) at Kansas City, racing for the win, that is what this sport is all about.

"Obviously, as time has gone by, you know that the day (you'll retire) is coming sooner rather than later, but I'm not ready to quit driving for at least a couple more years, I don't think."

DALE JARRETT •   Driver Page •   Ford Driver's Eye •   Superstore: Jarrett gear! •   Jarrett Article Archive

Jarrett gave the latest batch of retirees their due, but said any comparison was the classic apples-and-oranges scenario, particularly in the case of Wallace and Martin, who announced last season that 2005 would be their final full-time year in Cup.

Labonte complete his last full-time season last year and will do 10-race schedules for the next two seasons.

RICKY RUDD •   Driver Page •   2004 Stats •   Ford Driver's Eye •   Superstore: Rudd gear

"Both of those guys have had great careers," Jarrett said. "They've meant a lot to this sport. The only thing aside from losing two good friends out here that are my age and we have things in common to talk about would be the questions that come at me now about when I'm gonna retire because we're basically the same age.

"My answer to that is I started later than they did, so I'm gonna try to drive a little longer than what they are -- but I wish them both the best in their last year. When you see that happening to two good guys, and obviously Terry is cutting back too.

"Those people have meant a lot to this sport and you'd like to see them have a lot of success here to go out on a good note."

Rusty Wallace was able to break a three-year losing streak with a victory in 2004. Credit: Autostock

As is the case with any performance oriented sport, Nextel Cup racing is statistically analyzed to an excruciating degree, and production has factored into all the drivers' decisions about their careers' futures.

Rudd, especially, said the unhappiness he felt right before leaving Robert Yates Racing made him say things he wishes, in hindsight, he'd never said.

Then, he said his career had, at best, only a couple years left.

"One thing I've learned is that until the day comes when I'm going to retire, I'm not going to talk about it," Rudd said, smiling. "It had gotten to the point by the end of that (2002) season that it just wasn't a lot of fun.

NASCAR ACCELERATION •   Know Your NASCAR •   Tickets for Daytona •   2004 Daytona 500 highlights •   Get TrackPass for 2005!

"I really enjoy racing with these guys (Wood Brothers) and with (crew chief) Michael McSwain coming back on board with us last year, we're competitive again. That makes all the difference in the world.

"While the end is in sight, I can see myself racing for a couple more years, at least."

Both Rudd and Jarrett are 48 years old, say their physical condition is exceptional and have no question about any drop in their skill level.

"Obviously, something has to change there as time goes on, but I'm not sure where that comes in," Jarrett said. "I think that it may be different with different people (but) as far as myself, I think that physically I'm definitely in better shape than when I started this back in my thirties.

"That part of it I'm not concerned with. I still see well and I still enjoy this so much that I don't think there's any part of me physically that is keeping me from winning races or competing weekly in a good way."

Mark Martin's final season will be 2005. Ironically, he is pegged as a championship contender. Credit: Autostock

Both veterans also said they were in a position to receive plenty of good advice on career matters.

Rudd cited his wife, Lynda and Jarrett, his spouse Kelley as key components in any decision.

"You think a lot about (retiring)," Jarrett said. "I think a lot more about that now than I ever have, obviously before. In knowing when is going to be that right time."

"My wife, Kelley, who as many of you know is very candid and has never hesitated -- and won't hesitate -- to let me know (when it's time) because she, just like myself, doesn't want to see me go down that other side."

Unlike Wallace and Martin, who won last season; Rudd's last victory came in 2002 and Jarrett's, in 2003, as was Labonte's.

They have all cited competitiveness as a key factor in decisions to keep racing.

"I've been very fortunate in the many years I've been in this sport to be associated with a lot of good people and teams and have a wonderful career," Jarrett said.

I don't want to slide down that other side, so I think that I can rely on those people and hopefully know when that (retirement) time is here."