Sharpie 500 - Ricky Rudd Notes

Ricky Rudd: "I thought it was physically tough, but it was a hoot to drive that place."

The first time Ricky Rudd, driver of the #21 Motorcraft Racing Ford Taurus, saw Bristol Motor Speedway, it came as a surprise. He wasn't prepared for the banking nor the feel of racing on the Tennessee half-mile track. But it didn't take him long to decide that he liked it. Ricky will be making his 52nd start at Bristol where he finished fourth in March.

"In 1975, we ran three races. We went to Rockingham, Atlanta, Bristol.

"I never came up on short tracks so I didn't know what to expect. I knew it was banked, but I didn't know it was that different than any of the other race tracks that were on the circuit. I knew it was a tough little race track. But, I thought it was fun. It was like going to Disney World or something and going on a roller coaster. But instead of riding on the roller coaster, somebody said, 'You drive the roller coaster.'

"That was my first impression. And we did pretty well there. We finished 10th the first time we were there.

"I thought it was a blast. I thought it was physically tough, but it was a hoot to drive that place. That was my first impression of it.

"I would say today it is still the most physically demanding track, that and Dover when it was 500 miles and was a little bit rougher than what it is today.

"But I'd say 500 laps at Bristol is still the toughest of any place we go."

©Copyright 2003 Race 2 Win