NASCAR WCUP: Rudd carries momentum to Pocono
Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
June 13, 2001LONG POND, Pa. – Ricky Rudd, driver of the No. 28 Texaco/Havoline Taurus, is carrying a considerable amount of momentum into Sunday's Pocono 500 at Pocono Raceway. Coming off a second-place finish at Michigan, Rudd is up to fourth in the series point standings, three points out of third. He leads the series with 10 top-10 finishes including the last five races.
"Our Texaco/Havoline guys are working as hard as anyone in the garage area," Rudd said. "I think the struggle to get to victory lane has really caused them all to step up.
"I don't want to say our guys are working harder than everyone else, because there are a lot of hard working people in this business. However our team just keeps getting stronger and stronger."
The 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway may be just what Rudd needs to return to victory lane.
"I believe we will be very strong this weekend," Rudd said. "In fact, when I look back at last year, I think we had a car capable of winning both races at Pocono. In the June race we got caught up in a wreck and had the front torn off the car. And even with the damage, we were awful good and raced back to a third-place finish.
"In July we were even better until I hit some debris, cut a tire down and wrecked. The long Pocono straightaways are great for us because of our Robert Yates horsepower. Michael McSwain and my guys can really make a car handle well and with those long corners, handling is very important.
"We definitely have a lot of momentum on our side and I really can't think of a better track for us to be going to than Pocono. With the points race so close, we're hungrier than ever."
Text provided by Steve Post
Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit
The Racing Photo Museum and the
Visions of Speed Art Gallery.