Ricky Rudd was winless in 58 career starts at Talladega. Credit: Autostock

Rudd to test COT for Wyler Racing at 'Dega

MOORESVILLE, N.C. -- Wyler Racing announced on Thursday that it will take part in NASCAR's Car of Tomorrow test session at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 9th. Behind the wheel of its Toyota Camry will be veteran driver Ricky Rudd.

"We are very excited about this opportunity," team owner Jeff Wyler said. "We feel this is the perfect time to expand our organization. We bring tremendous value to the table for potential sponsors especially with Toyota entering into the Nextel Cup Series and with the personnel we have assembled."

Jack Sprague has one win, seven top-fives and nine top-10s in 17 starts this season. Credit: Autostock

Wyler Racing currently fields the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota Tundra in the Craftsman Truck Series driven by three-time series champion Jack Sprague. The team earned its first pole and trip to Victory Lane earlier this year in Memphis.

Sprague currently sits eighth in the point standings. In a little more than one year of existence, in addition to that pole and win, Wyler Racing has accumulated 13 top-10 and nine top-five finishes.

Rudd, who retired from full-time competition at the end of the 2005 season, has 23 wins to his credit in 875 starts in Cup Series competition.

One of NASCAR's 50 Greatest Drivers, Rudd finished a career-best second in the final point standings in 1991. He is also known as NASCAR's "Iron Man" for his record setting 788 consecutive starts in the Cup Series.

"I'm really excited about getting the opportunity to test the Toyota Camry COT for Wyler Racing and Toyota," Rudd said. "This will be my first time testing the COT so I'm really looking forward to the test and giving as much feedback to the team as possible."

For Wyler Racing, the test is a chance for the young team to assist Toyota and a glimpse at what the future could hold. Although testing a Cup car, Wyler Racing is firmly committed to its Craftsman Truck Series effort.

"While we are excited about the Cup opportunity, the focus remains on the No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota and helping Jack Sprague to win his fourth Series championship," team president David Wyler said.

"We are very proud of the effort put forth this season by the Con-way Freight team. "We could not have asked for a better driver than Jack Sprague, a better leader than Tony Furr or a better sponsor than Con-way Freight."