BROOKLYN, Mich., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Ricky Rudd, second only to Richard Petty in career NASCAR starts, plans to retire at the end of this racing season.
Rudd made the announcement Sunday during the rain delay in the NASCAR race at Brooklyn, Mich.
"I've been fortunate that it's something that I've loved to do, had fun doing and made a good living doing it," Rudd said. "To run the schedule week-in and week-out, it's more demanding than it used to be. And it's really become a young guys' sport: a single guy or a guy that's married and no kids, which means guys in their 20s and early 30s, just because there are so many demands on your schedule.
"I guess I'm not willing to make those sacrifices for that full-time schedule anymore."
Rudd made his racing debut on March 2, 1975, finishing 11th at Rockingham. He won at least one race in 16 consecutive seasons from 1983-98. He will top the 900 mark in starts, second on the all-time list to Petty's 1,184, before this season ends. Rudd has won 23 races and has 374 top 10 finishes.
