THE ROOSTER: The Story Of Ricky Rudd
NBR
19,771 views
In NASCAR, there have been few drivers as tough as Ricky Rudd. From taping his eyes open, to fighting off heat stroke en route to victory. Rudd for over 25 years was a constant presence in the NASCAR Cup Series, and in 2025 he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Music: @WhiteBatAudio
20 Comments
@NASCARFAN93100 9 months ago
That 1998 Martinsville Race will forever be The Epitome of Perseverance.
@rosschastainfan1851 9 months ago
Was an honor to be in attendance of one of the toughest customers to ever wheel a race car at his Hall of Fame speech. Will never get tired of watching the 1998 race at Martinsville.
@mattlc713 9 months ago
Hell yes! There’s a career I’ve always wanted to know more about. Always wondered how Rudd got Tide to come with him after he stopped driving for Hendrick Motorsports
@TotoDG 9 months ago
It's fitting that he was nicknamed 'Rooster', since that was also the nickname of Jerry Cantrell Sr., father of Alice in Chains band leader, Jerry Jr.; the younger Jerry wrote AiC's hit, 'Rooster', about his father's experience in Vietnam, and how he also seemingly refused to die.
@graycon-il2vs 9 months ago (edited)
Huge Rudd fan, probably the best video Ive ever seen on his career. Many things I had never heard before. Thank you for doing this! Rudd won in almost every decent car he sat in, was the last successful independent owner driver in Nascar history. Met him several times, once in the airport, he was always super nice guy.
@LoveConquersAll321 4 months ago
Ricky Rudd, the personification of Tough. The narration suggests the Rooster was an afterthought, “less than relevant”, You couldn’t be more wrong, he lives and breathes as one of the all time greats. Everybody at the track knew he was there, underestimate him at your own peril. His personality swung out of favor as the Posterboy Era started to take hold, the rough edges of the sport hidden under the glare of tv lights but never, ever discount Ricky Rudd as an also-ran. Thanks for the memories Mr. Rudd, you are remembered fondly.
@outdawazoo2162 9 months ago (edited)
21:00 never seen this finish before. one of the best ever. wow.
@IanTalksRacing_YT 9 months ago
It is tradition for NBR to upload videos about NASCAR Legends on Christmas. Merry Christmas, NBR!
@Russell-b9z 12 days ago
I always been interested in racing.
I became the huge nascar fan I used to be at the Transouth 400 in Darlington 1984.
Benny Parsons was on the pole.
We were sitting in the cheap seats out of turn two. Down close to the track. At the beginning of the backstretch (now the frontstretch).
Point is Benny came out of the turn nearly sideways in front of the entire field.
Not hitting anyone or causing any wreck.
This is what hooked me. The smell of rubber hooked me.
Also the skill it took to avoid the wreak.
This brings me to Ricky Rudd. He was one of those guys called a racer. He was never in good enough equipment. He was known for taking care of his equipment and getting the best finish possible.
It was easy being an Earnhardt fan. I was never a Ricky Rudd fan, but I always acknowledged how good he was. Especially on the road courses.
I had garage passes for the Coca-Cola 600. I met him and was surprised he was as short as he was.
He was shorter than I thought. That doesn't mean he was small.
Years later I heard he was known as "Rooster". Knowing nothing more about him than I did, that fit him perfectly.
I don't know of his hobbies. He looks like he could be a cool cat to hang out with.
I became the huge nascar fan I used to be at the Transouth 400 in Darlington 1984.
Benny Parsons was on the pole.
We were sitting in the cheap seats out of turn two. Down close to the track. At the beginning of the backstretch (now the frontstretch).
Point is Benny came out of the turn nearly sideways in front of the entire field.
Not hitting anyone or causing any wreck.
This is what hooked me. The smell of rubber hooked me.
Also the skill it took to avoid the wreak.
This brings me to Ricky Rudd. He was one of those guys called a racer. He was never in good enough equipment. He was known for taking care of his equipment and getting the best finish possible.
It was easy being an Earnhardt fan. I was never a Ricky Rudd fan, but I always acknowledged how good he was. Especially on the road courses.
I had garage passes for the Coca-Cola 600. I met him and was surprised he was as short as he was.
He was shorter than I thought. That doesn't mean he was small.
Years later I heard he was known as "Rooster". Knowing nothing more about him than I did, that fit him perfectly.
I don't know of his hobbies. He looks like he could be a cool cat to hang out with.
@johnmunro7548 9 months ago
Ricky Rudd was like the feisty version of Mark Martin. Never won a title, but even if you weren’t a fan… you liked him anyways… save Wilkesboro in 1989 lol
@lfader 9 months ago
Working for a Ford\ Motorcraft wholesaler I attented numerous Fontana events w\ axcess credentials>>> Tide #10 RPM Ricky Rudd my driver.
Gracious man chatted him up @trailer after a Saturday practice his crew bbq'ing
what a rush ... Pit pass seeing hearing the deafening noise of the cars coming going making adjustments rattled your bones FIERCE power ⚡💥⚡
All the drivers were interacting signing taking pics Dale Earnheart Wallace Martin Gordon Jr etc a great experience. I'll never forget always appreciate.
🌟 Brickyard 400 🌟
Gracious man chatted him up @trailer after a Saturday practice his crew bbq'ing
what a rush ... Pit pass seeing hearing the deafening noise of the cars coming going making adjustments rattled your bones FIERCE power ⚡💥⚡
All the drivers were interacting signing taking pics Dale Earnheart Wallace Martin Gordon Jr etc a great experience. I'll never forget always appreciate.
🌟 Brickyard 400 🌟
@PepsiRacing 9 months ago (edited)
Ricky Rudd was almost the #33 Pizza Hut Ford for Jones/Petree in 2003
@THEDonnyB 1 month ago
Ricky Rudd had a TON of grit and tenacity.
Bill Elliott, Geoff and Brett Bodine, Darrell Waltrip, Ricky and a few others became owner drivers in the 90s...
But Rudd was the only one with a decent amount of sustained success.
Darrell couldn't remain competitive after 93. Bill Elliott went winless as an owner driver, Geoff fell off HARD after 1994, and even Brett Bodine had his own fall off from mid pack status.
But Ricky kept winning all the way to 1999. He did fall off a bit, no longer as consistent as he was in the 5, but he was still a threat at a lot of races.
Imagine if none of those guys went owner driver. I think they all could've gotten wins, but Rudd was in the Hendrick 5 before he went owner driver. Could Rudd have won the championship in 96? Could he have been a multiple time champion? Rudd really is a what if. He was such an underrated driver.
Bill Elliott, Geoff and Brett Bodine, Darrell Waltrip, Ricky and a few others became owner drivers in the 90s...
But Rudd was the only one with a decent amount of sustained success.
Darrell couldn't remain competitive after 93. Bill Elliott went winless as an owner driver, Geoff fell off HARD after 1994, and even Brett Bodine had his own fall off from mid pack status.
But Ricky kept winning all the way to 1999. He did fall off a bit, no longer as consistent as he was in the 5, but he was still a threat at a lot of races.
Imagine if none of those guys went owner driver. I think they all could've gotten wins, but Rudd was in the Hendrick 5 before he went owner driver. Could Rudd have won the championship in 96? Could he have been a multiple time champion? Rudd really is a what if. He was such an underrated driver.
THE ROOSTER: The Story Of Ricky Rudd
NBR
19,771 views
In NASCAR, there have been few drivers as tough as Ricky Rudd. From taping his eyes open, to fighting off heat stroke en route to victory. Rudd for over 25 years was a constant presence in the NASCAR Cup Series, and in 2025 he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
Music: @WhiteBatAudio