Ricky Rudd has 23 wins, 194 top-five finishes and 373 top-10s in 873 starts. Credit: Autostock

Rudd to step back from racing, but not 'retiring'

CONCORD, N.C. -- Ricky Rudd on Tuesday clarified his position -- and future -- and announced that he will step back from the sport after the 2005 season, but stopped short of calling his decision a retirement.

Rudd said that he and Roger Penske had been in talks to take over the No. 2 Dodge upon the retirement of Rusty Wallace at the end of the year.

RICKY RUDD •   Driver Page •   2005 Statistics •   Superstore: Rudd gear Inside the Numbers Most Cup starts Rank Driver No. 1. R. Petty 1,184 2. D. Marcis 883 3. R. Rudd 873 4. T. Labonte 831 5. D. Waltrip 809 Most top-10 finishes Rank Driver No. 1. R. Petty 712 2. B. Allison 446 3. D. Earnhardt 428 4. D. Waltrip 390 5. R. Rudd 373 Most laps raced Rank Driver No. 1. R. Petty 307,836 2. R. Rudd 250,401 3. T. Labonte 242,643 4. D. Waltrip 237,773 5. D. Marcis 231,337 Most points scored * Rank Driver No. 1. R. Rudd 100,300 2. D. Waltrip 100,123.175 3. T. Labonte 99,051 4. D. Earnhardt 93,657 5. B. Elliott 90,577 * -- 1972-current Career highlightsWatch Rudd's on-track action with Track Pass Sign up for TrackPass now BUY YOUR NEXTEL DRIVER PHONE

"First, let me say that discussions between me and the Penske organization about driving the No. 2 car next year came up very recently and after I already had decided to take a break from racing for a time," Rudd said. "I had previously turned down several other opportunities to drive for teams and owners I respect, but the Penske opportunity was unique, and maybe the only offer that would have made me consider changing my plans to step back for a time."

However, Penske, Chip Ganassi and Jack Roush announced moves Monday that ended all discussions with Rudd and Penske.

Defending Nextel Cup champion Kurt Busch will move from Roush Racing to Penske; Jamie McMurray will join Roush from Ganassi; and Casey Mears, already under contract with Ganassi, will take over for McMurray in the No. 42 Dodge.

"The thing that made the offer unique was not often does the opportunity come along to step into a championship contending car with just a one-year driving obligation," Rudd said.

"In my view, however, the way this has worked out is to everyone's benefit. I get to take the break I was planning to take and the No. 2 team gets to do what is best for them and their sponsors long term. I am happy that I was able to provide them with a good alternative in case Kurt was not able to drive the No. 2 car next year, but quite frankly -- for me and my family -- the way it has turned out is a much better result."

Rudd, who drives the No. 21 Ford for the Wood Brothers, is expected to make his 786th consecutive start Sunday at Phoenix, extending the all-time record for consecutive races by a driver.

He made his Cup debut March 2, 1975, at Rockingham. He started 26th and finished 11th in the Carolina 500 for Bill Champion.

Rudd was the Cup series' rookie of the year in 1977 and finished a career-best second in the standings in 1991 while driving for Rick Hendrick.

Rudd has 23 wins, 194 top-five finishes and 373 top-10s in 873 starts.

"If I were to decide never to drive again, I have had a great career," Rudd said. "My hat is off to NASCAR for making the sport what it is today, but I particularly would like to thank all the great sponsors and car owners who put their trust in me and made my career possible, people like Junie Dunlevy, Richard Childress, Bud Moore, Kenny Bernstein, Rick Hendrick, Robert Yates and the Woods.

"I have been privileged to drive for some of the best. I also want to thank all of the talented and dedicated people I have worked with in racing over the years, the crew chiefs and the crew members, who put in so much time and effort to give me competitive cars."

Rudd ran four races in the 1975 and '76 seasons before joining the Cup series full time for the 1977 season. It was a family operation, driving for his father Al Rudd, and Ricky Rudd posted his first top-five, a fourth-place finish at Talladega.

Between 1978-80, Rudd raced in 54 of 92 Cup events before taking over the No. 88 Gatorade car for DiGard Racing in 1981. His first Cup victory was in the Budweiser 400 on June 5, 1983, at Riverside, Calif.

"I especially want to thank the fans -- without them, none of this would be possible, and their support for this sport and for me have made it all very worthwhile and have kept me going for many years," Rudd said. "I feel their energy and support every time I am around them.

"But most of all, I want to thank my family, whose support and patience carried me when things were not quite as comfortable as they are today.

"I am especially grateful to my father, who passed away a few months ago, for his unconditional support and encouragement not only early on, but, throughout my career. His passing has been a very sad event in our lives, and I think it has contributed to my desire to take a little time off.

"I hope this clarifies things. I am not going far. I will be around."