THIS TIME RUDD PLACES SPOTLIGHT ON CHECKERED, NOT GREEN

    CHARLOTTE, N.C.-The last time Ricky Rudd, driver of the No. 28 Havoline 
Ford, competed at Lowe's Motor Speedway, he was a winner before the green 
flag fell.  Making his 656th consecutive NASCAR Winston Cup Series start, 
Rudd claimed the Iron Man title just by starting in May. This time, however, 
Rudd is looking at earning his first win at the 1.5-mile oval.
    "The Iron Man title is such an incredible honor," Rudd said.  "And taking 
the record at Charlotte made it more special. This track opened doors for me 
and helped get my career going."
    Lowe's Motor Speedway has played an intricate role in Rudd's 27-year 
Winston Cup career. Rudd continuously credits the October 5, 1980 event at 
the speedway as the turning-point in his career. With a strong fourth-place 
finish in that event, Rudd moved from a low-funded family operation to the 
DiGard Racing team where he first worked with Robert Yates, his No. 28 car 
owner, and has not missed a NASCAR Winston Cup Series start since.  
    This Sunday will mark Rudd's 675th consecutive Winston Cup Series start 
and his 53rd at Lowe's Motor Speedway, extending his Iron Man title and 
earning him the Iron Man title of the speedway that he has competed at more 
times than any active driver. He has scored nine top-five finishes here and 
leads all active drivers with 25 top-10's, three of those from his last four 
starts. Rudd has won 23 times in his career at 14 different tracks, but has 
yet to capture a win at Charlotte.  
    "I've won some big races," Rudd said. "But I know when I look back on my 
career it won't seem complete without a trophy from Charlotte." 
    Rudd may be inching closer to his goal as he finished fourth here in May, 
leading the field twice for a total of 49 laps.  
    "I like racing at Charlotte and we ran really well last time we were 
here," Rudd said. "That just makes the team even more anxious to return. 
Hopefully we can pick up where we left off."
    Rudd finished third at Talladega Superspeedway last weekend, posting the 
Havoline team's seventh top-five finish of the season. He also moved up to 
ninth in the point standings. With six races remaining, Rudd sits 246 points 
behind current leader, Tony Stewart.  
    "This team definitely has a few wins left in us, possibly one at 
Charlotte," Rudd said. "None of us are giving up on the season at hand."