Ricky Rudd's Victory Lane Interview, Martinsville 1998

[NYBravest82]

guts



[LegoDalejr2488]

this sucks that rudd retired :(

[GTfangotech]

I was a Rudd Fan since I started watching NASCAR in 1998 when I was 3. Sad when he retired. But he was the best.

[KKFan9]

Ricky Rudd. One badass dude.

[Moose6340]

Y'know, I just noticed...the EMT working on Ricky at 0:11 is wearing a T-shirt from my hometown volunteer rescue squad, the Amherst Life Saving Crew in Virginia. Which is odd, because Amherst is two hours' drive from Martinsville.

[copedipper667]

Ricky kicks ass one tough sum bitch makes me proud to be a Virginian nothing against mark martin or anything but ricky is the best driver never to win a championship

[Moose6340]

I remember watching this live on TV at home; I was living in Richmond at the time and it was hotter than hell all over Virginia that day, high 90s with the heat index pushing 105-110. I was really rooting for him to pull it off. Rudd is a straight-up badass, and they don't make 'em like him in NASCAR anymore.

[Tlb81]

Triplehomicide i totally agree rudd is my favorite driver of all time

[TripleHomicide]

Ricky Rudd was one tough badass. Definitly was a championship calibur driver. He just never had luck fall his way. I sure miss him wheeling that #28 Ford.

[coldv1]

GO RICKY RUDD!

[KKFan9]

Ricky Rudd is possibly one of the toughest motherfuckers to race a NASCAR racecar, hands-down. He and Dale Sr. both are some of the toughest drivers out there. Ain't no way that Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch and others would do what Ricky Rudd did in Martinsville that day. Ricky Rudd is a tough SOB. Insane credit to him for doing what he did.

[bulletburposmiley]

I remember this, Ricky Rudd is hardcore!

[bob08171962]

i think he needs to be a coach for all these drivers today including the top ones. there all sissy boys. maybe ricky could toughn them up. except maybe tony stewart. hes about as close to ricky's toughness.

[beatpunk9]

Bates you freaking moron, Rudd weighed about 145, all muscle. He was a workout freak just like Mark Martin is now. He started over 700 RACES IN A ROW. Now, as for Formula 1, Real racing??? Is that what you call it when there have been 6 races so far this year and FOUR of the six have been won wire to wire, without a SINGLE PASS??!! Go back in your hole you moron.

[bates233233]

Having endurance does not mean your an athlete, these guys are complete jokes...I have more respect for F1 drivers, thats real racing.

[dalejrgamer]

You try driving a vehicle for four straight hours in intense heat.

[bates233233]

If I was in a situation where I had to then I would, big woop! I am in the heat everyday, who cares, this video still doesn't prove NASCAR drivers are athletes.....NASCAR is a complete joke.

[joyrod11]

if nascars a joke, why the fuck are you watching and commenting on the videos of it?

[madisondanton]

Try being about 110 degrees in a racecar, hard to turn for 3-5 hours non-stop. I also have respect for F1 drivers, but you have no respect for American auto racing.

[joyrod11]

no i do. i was yelling at bates233233 for not having respect, look at their comment, i was defending nascar. im a huge auto racing fan around the whole world. sry for the confusion

[madisondanton]

yeah, i know. i was referring to him.

[bigfoot2448]

Ricky Rudd more of a driver and a man than Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt jr ever will be.

[mxmayhem]

that takes a crap load of enderance to be able to do that

[baybay123lol]

i related to ricky!!!

[hollywoodmartin21]

its a shame he had to be the rodney dangerfield of nascar

[madisondanton]

I really don't think that ANYBODY now would be able to do what he did that day. Ricky freaking owns ALL!

[bates233233]

I am pretty sure they would, most of the guys now are in much much better shape, Ricky Rudd looks like a beer drinking lazy slob.

[Shammons55]

I used to race bandoleros. I thought I was dying. I was wrong!

[THEkingjaymz]

Man I love Ricky Rudd. Guarantee you wouldn't see anybody driving now do what Ricky did at this race, except maybe Tony. I know Jimmie would just cry to Knaus for him to fix it and end up 30th

[combatking08]

I will miss Ricky. Enjoy retirement.

[rickyruddfan88]

what a trooper. he will be missed around the track

[m309m]

Yesterday Rudd retired after the Ford 400, goodbye Ricky, NACSAR needs more guys like you.

[HappyHarvickGM29]

I remember this race, that is absolute courage. I remember it was like 97 degrees out side, and it felt like 105. Then it's always about 35-50 degrees hotter in the car and firesuit. So was in a 150 car for 5 hours at martinsville. Incredible. I'm not a ricky rudd fan, but taht right there is pretty awesome

[JBird30761]

I watched this race and was happy to see Ricky win this race, after all the tough luck he had since winning at the Brickyard in 1997. This shows how tough and athletic many of these drivers are!

[lostfreakadam]

Ricky Rudd kicks ass!

[leehr777]

Rudd is a ture nascar driver not the pussy that are driver these days nascar is all about money now i have been a fan since 1988 and seen them at daytona it's all about money it's sad really.

[thebiff16]

Ricky Rudd has to be the toughest driver in NA$CAR history.

[kainethebarbarian]

i remember something like half the field didnt finish this race, most of them cause of the heat. Ricky told his crew cheif about 10 laps from the end that "wether i end up in victory lane or the garage, get the doctors to me" Ricky is by far the toughest driver in nascar

[OlsonFan]

I've never been a big fan of Ricky Rudd, but I have never doubted his ability or his guts behind the wheel of a race car.

[jg24fan06]

That is a true testament saying that race car drivers ARE athletes.

[Troggle84]

Also, note the fact that it was roughly 95-97 degrees outside that day during the race (mentioned on television) and that it was around 150 inside the car. Jerry Nadeau and Robert Pressley were just 2 drivers that required relief during the race (Nadeau couldn't get it because no one was free to do it).

[toomuchtoomuch]

I have the entire race on VHS. I remember that Kenny Irwin retired and needed oxygen about halfway through the race. Also, Ted Musgrave was badly burned by his seat and handed the car over to another driver.

[ftw13495]

RICKY! RICKY! RICKY! idk, he's so cool though

[lorileebee]

SWEET! Hey, you like Jerr Nadeu, born in Danbury,CT??? I have one of his 1/24 scale cars. My son was born in the same hospital. He was his favorite driver. Hope he's doing well.

[nadeau1064]

Nadeau fan since 1998, Rudd fan since 1994; wouldn't trade 'em for anyone else! Very cool about your son; his name's not Jerry by any chance, is it?

[redracer1985]

@nadeau1064 Rudd, and Nadeau are among my all time faves in Nascar.

[lorileebee]

Ricky has been my favorite driver since 1992. I watched this race and was amazed at his stamina. Whatever happened to Dr. Jerry Punch?

[nadeau1064]

Did you hear? Dr. Jerry Punch is now the head commentator for ESPN's return to NASCAR this year. He's doing the Busch races right now and will do Cup starting at the Brickyard 400 this July. :)

[toomuchtoomuch]

NASCAR is getting Cup again? I had no idea. That's awesome. However, I'm not a fan of Jerry Punch in the booth doing play-by-play? Need proof? Look for the Talladega Busch finish between Stewart and Labonte from earlier this year. Totally Botched.

[ROBLOXdude95]

@nadeau1064 He got released from head at ESPN in 2010 :D :D :D

[jg24fan06]

I remember being at this race. It was really hot that day.

[THEkingjaymz]

Yeah, always been a big Rudd fan. This totally gave the finger to anybody who thought racecar drivers aren't athletes.

[newjersey421]

Ricky's the greatest...! What a job, driving with no cooling in his helmet all day...!

[NAVGFan]

After only 5 laps?! Wow, Ricky sure showed his guts that day.

[Petrooli]

it doesn't matter if nascar drivers are athletes or not. what means is great racing and interesting show.