THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 9, 1997 TAG: 9702070082
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C8 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: NASCAR '97
A Guide to NASCAR '97
LENGTH: 36 lines
[Profiles on Drivers]
[1-99]
10. RICKY RUDD
Age: 40
Home: Lake Norman, N.C.
Car: Tide Ford
Owners: Ricky and Linda Rudd
Crew chief: Jim Long
New for '97: Long replaces Richard Broome.
'96 highlights: Won one race, had 15 other top-10 finishes and
finished sixth in Winston Cup points. Purse winnings: $1,503,025.
Career highlights: Has 17 wins in 562 starts, and winnings of
$11.5 million. . . . Considered a road-course master. . . . Made
Winston Cup debut in 1975 and was Rookie of the Year in 1977. Has
run full time since 1981. . . . First win came in 1983, and he's won
at least one race a year since then.
Scouting report: Rudd gets his victory every year, and 1997
should be no different. He may not have what it takes to contend for
the title, but look for another consistent year and another strong
finish in the points.
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