Ricky Rudd gets comfortable in Tony Stewart's No. 20 Chevrolet before Friday's qualifying session. Credit: Autostock

No rust on Rudd as he subs for Stewart at Dover

DOVER, Del. -- Ricky Rudd stepped into the Nextel Cup garage at Dover International Speedway on Friday wearing a familiar blue and silver Air Force suit with No. 21 Wood Brothers on the back.

"That thing still fit you?" a NASCAR official asked.

Neighborhood Excellence 400 Top 10 qualifiers No. Car Driver 1. 12 Ryan Newman 2. 19 Jeremy Mayfield 3. 24 Jeff Gordon 4. 2 Kurt Busch 5. 29 Kevin Harvick 6. 6 Mark Martin 7. 11 Denny Hamlin 8. 38 Elliott Sadler 9. 26 Jamie McMurray 10. 20 Ricky Rudd • Complete lineup, click here

Rudd, 49, smiled and replied, "Believe it or not, yeah."

The more important fit came when Rudd stepped into the seat of the No. 20 Chevrolet of reigning Nextel Cup champion Tony Stewart, who is nursing a broken shoulder blade suffered last weekend at Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Rudd, who later was given a slimmed-down version of Stewart's orange and black Home Depot suit, practiced and qualified the car on Friday. He will replace Stewart, who plans to run a few practice laps on Saturday and start at the back of the field on Sunday, during the first caution.

That can't come soon enough for Rudd, who stepped out of retirement to compete in top-notch equipment with a top-notch organization for the first time since he finished fourth in points for Robert Yates Racing in 2001.

How this weekend goes could determine whether he ends his one-year sabbatical -- he doesn't like using the word retirement -- next season to join Toyota, RYR or one of the other teams that have called.

"I have sat in some really good race cars, but they haven't been like these operations," said Rudd, who had the 10th fastest lap in qualifying. "Each week they go to the racetrack they are very capable of winning a race.

"It's an opportunity of a lifetime for me. There's no excuses. Here's a championship car. If I can adapt or not adapt, that might have some bearing on what I do next year."

Greg Zipadelli, Stewart's crew chief since Stewart entered Cup in 1999, thought of Rudd late Sunday night. He talked it over with Stewart and both agreed the Chesapeake, Va., native would be the best alternative in case the situation lingers for several weeks.

Rudd, who has been enjoying the time off riding go-karts and dirt bikes with his 11-year-old son, didn't have to think long about it.

"I've got a little mini-farm out in Huntersville, N.C.," Rudd said. "It was a tough call. Do I go out and cut grass for six hours this weekend or go out to Dover and drive a racecar? It wasn't real hard to figure out what I wanted to do."

The decision might be tougher next week when the series heads to Pocono, Pa. Rudd has what he calls a "Chevy Chase" family vacation planned to an undisclosed theme park.

Rooster runs againRicky Rudd qualifies Tony Stewart's car 10th at Dover Sign up for TrackPass now BUY THE NEXTEL i836

"I probably could run next week, but then I've got, 'Run Pocono. Divorce. Pocono? Divorce?' " Rudd said with a laugh.

Rudd was enjoying his return to a series that he competed in 31 years, longer than more than half the field is old. He even had fun with Stewart, who would have a harder time fitting into Rudd's Home Depot uniform than Rudd had fitting into his seat.

"I told him I'm a good case study in this uniform," Rudd said.

Rudd still hasn't figured out how he fit into Stewart's seat.

"There was one big difference when I got in there," he said. "The crotch strap was way too big. I think he needed a lot of extra spare room."

The day wasn't so fun for Stewart, who is fourth in points. He watched practice from atop his hauler and qualifying from his RV. He looked like a lost puppy as he walked through the garage with nothing to do.

Stats at a Glance Ricky Rudd's victories Year Track Owner 1983 Riverside R. Childress 1983 Martinsville R. Childress 1984 Richmond B. Moore 1985 Riverside B. Moore 1986 Martinsville B. Moore 1986 Dover B. Moore 1987 Atlanta B. Moore 1987 Dover B. Moore 1988 Watkins Glen K. Bernstein 1989 Sears Point K. Bernstein 1990 Watkins Glen R. Hendrick 1991 Darlington R. Hendrick 1992 Dover R. Hendrick 1993 Michigan R. Hendrick 1994 New Hampshire R. Rudd 1995 Phoenix R. Rudd 1996 Rockingham R. Rudd 1997 Dover R. Rudd 1997 Indianapolis R. Rudd 1998 Martinsville R. Rudd 2001 Pocono R. Yates 2001 Richmond R. Yates 2002 Sears Point R. Yates

"I feel like [gathering] moss," Stewart said as he watched Zipadelli and Rudd discuss practice.

But Stewart understands the importance of putting the team ahead of his desire to be in the car. He knows it's more important for him to be healthy for the Championship Chase.

"I don't think it's a matter of whether I want to or not," Stewart said of making an early exit. "It's a bumpy racetrack. With the load that you have on that corner of your body, it's just impossible to think [about driving the whole race]."

But it is feasible for Rudd, who has three wins and 26 top 10s on the one-mile track. He is as comfortable on the track as he was in Stewart's car.

"It's like a real well-oiled machine," Rudd said. "The whole group works as one machine. I can't tell you what it means to have a chance to experience it from an insider's perspective."

This wasn't the way it was for Rudd the last three years, when he had no wins and only 17 top 10 finishes.

"You would have a really good car one week and you might go two months and you'll get another good car," he said.

"You should see this machine that they've got put together. I've been in their shop. It's amazing to see what they've got to work with."

Rudd's toughest chore of the weekend likely will be the driver switch. He practiced getting into the car at the shop earlier this week and plans to do so again on Saturday.

Ricky Rudd sports the orange and black of Home Depot on Friday. Credit: Autostock

The team is limited on practice with Stewart for fear of hurting the injury further.

"Being gentle in getting Tony out of there and doing it as quickly as we can will be our biggest challenge," Zipadelli said.

Meanwhile, Rudd will enjoy the moment. He can't walk more than few steps without having drivers, crew members or officials congratulate him or offer a handshake.

"I miss about all of them," Rudd said. "Now some of their mannerisms on the racetrack I don't miss too much."

And he doesn't miss racing enough to commit to a 36-race schedule next season, which may take him off the market before he gets on it.

"I told those guys I'll be the designated old man test driver," Rudd said. "It's good to be back this week, and I'm not thinking much beyond that."