Perennial veteran Ricky Rudd has been at the center of Silly Season rumors around the Winston Cup garage area. "The only thing that I ‘ve really got to say is that I want to emphasize this isn’t about money", said Rudd, referring to speculation
that he will not be returning to Robert Yates Racing in 2003.
Rudd, who closed his own team and signed with Yates in 1999, is at the end of a three-year contract. Rumors began to fly when
earlier in the season Rudd stated that he was contemplating retirement, and speculation that Elliott Sadler would be in the car
started.
In what has escalated in a war of words between the team owner and the driver, Rudd threw the first punch implying that he
deserved a salary proportionate to his series standing. Yates responded by stating to ESPN’s RPM 2night that negotiations are all
but over and that Rudd’s status is in question.
Continuing to add fuel to the fire Rudd publicly stated that his crew chief Michael McSwain would be working with Elliott Sadler in
2003. A statement that confirmed Sadler’s relationship with Yates but is something that has not yet been officially announced.
Rudd continued on the issue. "The issue right now is that if Robert will give me some assurances to the best of his ability that he'll keep this team intact without
moving people around, and then it's a done deal. It's that simple. It's all about assuring that the people we have today will be here
next year. That's the only hold up. The money has been agreed to weeks ago. Right now, this is about assuring me that the people I
have on the twenty-eight Havoline team today will be there for us next year. Sometimes people move on, but I would like to see him,
to the best of his ability, assure that there won't be any internal transfers. That's the only issue we have."
Team owner Robert Yates would not directly address the McSwain issue, other than confirming there was friction on the twenty-eight team. Yates further discussed Rudd’s future beyond being a Yates employee, "What I know about the scenario of what his opportunity is,
he's got a really good opportunity -- one that, if I were just a fan that understood racing, I would say, 'That's a good opportunity.' I
don't know if it's better than the one we have. It may pay better. It may be at some point better for him and he's just got to make a
decision. The longer he waits to make that decision, the slimmer this deal gets."
Rudd, who has competed in the series since 1975, has found a second career with Yates. He has not finished out of the top five in
point’s standings in the past two full seasons with Robert Yates Racing.
