Ricky Rudd To Help Stewart
Wednesday, May 31st, 2006 9:06am CDT
By Luke, Thunder Lounge
Published on Thunder Lounge.
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[thumb:188:l:s=1:l=x]In a follow-up to last weekends drama, where Tony Stewart smacked the wall less than a dozen laps into the Busch race, and followed it up Sunday night with a lap 33 smack into the turn 4 wall again in the Cup race, Ricky Rudd is going to lend a helping hand.
Tony’s a hurtin’ puppy right now. However, he will start at Dover this weekend. How long he’ll run, nobody knows. Expect it to only be as long a he has to, and at first chance, Ricky Rudd will pop into the car and finish the run. Ricky will also qualify and practice the car leading up to the race. If Stewart hops in the car and takes the green flag he’ll get the points from the finish, even if Ricky jumps behind the wheel shortly thereafter. However, if Stewart doesn’t qualify the car, he will have to start from the rear of the field.
Dale Earnhardt Jr did a similar mix for a couple races back in the fall of 2004, where he had Martin Truex Jr hop in to relieve him after he was injured when his corvette caught on fire in a race out in Sonoma.
Here’s the kicker. Stewart could literally take a weekend off, and still not drop from the top 10 in points. Currently he is 231 points behind leader Jimmie Johnson, and sitting fourth in the points. Sitting in tenth place, 435 points back, is Kevin Harvick. That’s a difference of 204 points, which can’t be made up in one race. Granted the move wouldn’t be the brightest idea, as he’d have to be on his toes until Richmond, but statistically speaking it is possible.
Whether you like Stewart or not, you have to give him credit for toughing it out for the big picture. Kind of reminds you when someone else duck taped their eyes open to run run a race. How ironic that he happens to be the backup driver in this situation.
Filed Under: Nascar, Nextel Cup
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Smoke’s situation is definitely a case of “Buschwhackers revenge”
I’m laying 5 to 1 odds that Smoke never sets foot in the #33 Busch car the remainder of the season.
Marc said this on May 31st, 2006 at 9:54 am
That’ll be something to follow, for sure. You could almost phrase along the lines of if the Coach will let him back in that car. Then again, it might come down to contract issues too. I know he’s got more races for KHI coming up too.
To be honest, I’d like to see Ricky jump in the car under the first caution, and then win. Not exactly for Tony’s sake, but simply because I’d like to see Ricky’s post race interview.
Luke said this on May 31st, 2006 at 11:29 am
I think that ricky could very well be the best interview of the day
Malachi said this on June 1st, 2006 at 6:06 pm
I’m just wondering if someone will ask the question that’s on everyone’s mind, in regards to his plans for next year. Toyota? Yates? Ganassi if Mears bails?
Luke said this on June 2nd, 2006 at 11:48 am
NOPE, he’s done as a full time driver. I think we will see in some special appearances such as the one with Stewart, but not in a permit full time ride. He may also be seen running a limited schedule too.
Tim said this on June 3rd, 2006 at 3:32 am
I’m not too sure of that. He originally said he only wanted a year off. And from the interviews last night I’d say he might kick it around. I mean, he isn’t going to go hopping in the 49 for Beth, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him on a two year deal with somebody.
Luke said this on June 3rd, 2006 at 8:14 am
Nope, don’t think so. I think he may do a Bill Elliot deal and drive five or six races for some one and be a mentor for some junior drivers at best
Tim said this on June 3rd, 2006 at 8:47 am
I don’t know on that one. He was looking pretty hungry last night on trackside. He was also looking in pretty good shape too. Gotta give the man credit too, for sticking that chevy in 10th during qualifying. The only reason he ran 10th was that he was afraid to go too hard and wreck their car. He said there was some more there, but he wanted to be conservative. It was a nice lap.
Luke said this on June 3rd, 2006 at 8:55 am