Ricky Rudd, driver of the #21 Ford Genuine Parts and Service Taurus, answers a number of questions from his fans this week on a variety of subjects, including future paint schemes, ending races under the green flag, potential new sponsorships and the new point system.
Is the red, white and gold car going to be your main paint job for the rest of the year? "We'll have several paint schemes before the year is out. We are going to race the Rent-A-Center scheme and the Air Force scheme again. We'll have the Wonder Woman car from the Justice League at the Michigan race next month, and we'll have the red Motorcraft car again, so it will be a mixture between now and the end of the year."
Do you collect your own die-cast cars and other collectibles for Landon or yourself? "Usually we get a sample of just about every die-cast we've had out and we just keep the samples and put them away in storage. One day they might be worth something."
What was it like to be in a movie? I ask because you were in Stroker Ace with Kyle Petty and Earnhardt Sr. - the scene was the racing with the carts through the lobby of the hotel. I thought it was funny and wanted to know if you liked it. "It was a lot of fun. We came in and played ourselves. It was kind of being 'star for a day.' You had a trailer outside that was set up for all the different personalities. The trailer had like six doors on it that had slots where you could slide the names in and out for a day. But, it was pretty neat. When you showed up you had your own dressing room with your name on the day. It was a lot of fun. We had fun doing it. That was a fun movie anyway because Hal Needham and Burt Reynolds were pretty laid back. We did the scene, shot it once or twice and Burt Reynolds didn't feel like it was coming off maybe the way he thought it should. We were in a hotel and we had these food service carts. Kyle Petty and I had actors. I had an actor on mine, and we were going to race through the hallways, and I guess he didn't think it was coming off right. He was in a closet, and he came out with a wig on his head and a vacuum cleaner, and he said, 'Excuse me, excuse me,' as he came through between us. And, it shocked everybody and as soon as he disappeared, they started rolling again. It was fun. It was a lot looser than maybe you would think it was."
With the new points system, what is going to happen to those drivers who are not within the 400-point window? Are those drivers not going to be driving in the remaining races? "I don't have an answer for that. I feel like the sponsors are being cheated if they are not in the top-10 cutoff. I think most of these sponsor deals were put together a couple of years ago, and I think you will see sponsors in the future having one price if you are in the top 10 at the end of the year because you are definitely going to get more attention and there would be another if the guys weren't in the top 10. I'm afraid it's going to come to that. It is very hard on a team, for budgeting reasons. But that is the real world and I think that is how sponsors are going to start looking at this. The trouble with a race team, having owned one, is that you've already committed and spent the sponsor money you will get in October, November and December back in April of that season. There are going to be a lot of ruffled feathers before this thing is over with. We'll have to see how it plays out. I don't think it is going to affect the drivers as much as it is the car owners and the sponsors. I'm already hearing talk of it."
What is the greatest moment in your career as a NASCAR driver? "I guess your race wins are what you live for. Some of them stick out a little more than others. The Brickyard was definitely a big win. But, probably my first win, as a Cup driver back in 1983 was a big deal. The IROC Championship was big. But, that is what I tend to think about, the victories."
NASCAR has made a number of changes in the last couple of years. Do you think that they need to change their policy on not having a race end under yellow? "I don't know. I think they are going to make their decision and we'll live with whatever they do. It is what it is. I can see both sides. I can see being a fan and coming and paying to see the race and then have it end under the yellow. But, I can see a lot of tore up equipment coming as a result of this, too. It is a different time. There are 20 cars in the lead lap now versus six or seven. So, we'll see. I will say this: It will definitely give it a lot more chance for an exciting finish. I'll give it that. NASCAR just needs to make the decision; are they in the entertainment business or the racing business?"
As hard as it is to acquire sponsorship, do you feel they need to lesson their stance on not allowing hard liquor sponsorship? "I personally don't quite understand how come beer can come in and then liquor is not allowed. Smirnoff Ice is on Kenseth's car and I thought Smirnoff was a liquor. I don't understand it. I have seen a lot of Crown Royal displays around NASCAR tracks, the ISC tracks. It's okay to sponsor events, but not cars. So, I'm a little confused about it, but it doesn't really concern me right now."
What is the best part of working with the Woods? "It is a hands-on company. All of the owners of the company, Kim, Eddie, Len, Bernece, Leonard work for it. It is a very personable company. You don't feel like you are lost in a big company atmosphere. They are good, solid people and as honest as the day is long. From that standpoint it is great working with them."
How much input do drivers have into their merchandise? I'm a steelworker and will only buy Made in USA. "I'd love to see everything made and produced in the United States. It is unfortunate that it is not that way. As far as apparel, we get the say so on if we like that design or don't like that design most of the time. Sometimes we don't even see that part of it."
Are your motor coaches provided for you or do you have to buy your own? "We buy them."
