Nextel Cup Series

PERSONAL Birthdate: Sept. 12, 1956 Hometown: Chesapeake, Va. Resides: Cornelius, N.C. Marital Status: Married (Linda) Children: Landon (8/26/94) Hobbies: Flying, 4-wheeling, snowmobiling, water sports

HIGHLIGHTS Finished among the top 10 in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship 19 times Holds NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series record for consecutive starts with 752 (starting 2005) 1997 Brickyard 400 champion NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series championship runner-up in 1991 1992 IROC Series champion

YEAR-BY-YEAR NASCAR NEXTEL CUP SERIES RECAP 2004 Finished 24th in series points. Best finish was a second at Kansas City. Best start was on the pole at Talladega in April. Finished in the top 20 in each of the final nine races of the season. Reunited with former crew chief Michael “Fatback” McSwain starting with the Bristol race in August. 2003 Finished 23rd in series points. First finish out of the NASCAR Top 10 since 1999. Best finish was a second at New Hampshire in Sept. Best start was a fifth in the season-opening Daytona 500. Was ninth in the NASCAR Top 10 after finishing fourth at Bristol in March, but dropped out for good after finishing 26th at Texas at the close of the month. 2002 Finished 10th in series points. Has finished in the NASCAR Top 10 19 times. Started his 656th consecutive race at Charlotte (5/26), breaking Terry Labonte’s record of 655 consecutive starts. Rudd had 690 consecutive starts through 2002. Announced in latter half of season plans to leave Robert Yates Racing and move to legendary Wood Brothers operation in 2003. Won road-course race at Infineon, for 23rd career victory. Took pole for road race at Watkins Glen. Cracked NASCAR Top 10 after season’s seventh race, stayed in top 10 for rest of season. 2001 Finished fourth in series points. Ended 88-race winless skein with victory from the pole at Pocono in June, first win since 1988 at Martinsville. Also won at Richmond fall race, taking lead with six laps remaining. Was in championship contention until August. Topped $3 million in season winnings for first time – and then some – with career high $4,878,027. 2000 Finished fifth in series points. First season with Robert Yates Racing after six years of owning own team. Failed to win a race for second consecutive season. Contended for win in Budweiser Shootout at Daytona before accident. Several days later, won a Daytona 500 125-mile qualifying race. Season-best finish was second at Michigan in August. Had five top-five runs in six-race span in September and October to reach points standings top five. Took poles at Las Vegas and Indianapolis. Finished in NASCAR Top 10 for 17th time. 1999 Finished 31st in series points. Worst season of career, in final season as owner-driver. Announced in late season plans to sell team and start driving in 2000 for Robert Yates in the renowned No. 28 Ford. Sold race shop to Yates; shop became home of No. 28. Ended streak of winning at least one race, after 16 consecutive years. 1998 Finished 22nd in series points. Disappointing season highlighted by victory at Martinsville in September, which extended string of consecutive seasons with a victory to 16. Made 600th career start. 1997 Finished 17th in series points. Got two victories in a season for the first time since 1987, winning at Dover and Indianapolis; latter win, in the Brickyard 400, was most significant of career. Extended streak of seasons with a victory to 15. 1996 Finished sixth in series points. Extended streak of consecutive seasons with a victory to 14, with win at Rockingham in October. Also had two second-place finishes. 1995 Finished ninth in series points. Won at Phoenix in October, to stretch streak of winning seasons to 13. Six DNFs hurt chances for higher finish in series standings. 1994 Finished fifth in series points. First season as owner-driver. Had 15 top-10 finishes including a victory at New Hampshire, marking the 12th consecutive season with at least one victory. 1993 Finished 10th in series points. Last season with Hendrick Motorsports; announced in summer plans to start own team beginning in 1994. Signed marquee sponsor Tide as his major sponsor. One victory, at Michigan, extended streak of seasons with at least one victory to 11. 1992 Finished seventh in series points. Victory at Dover fall race marked 10th consecutive season with at least one victory. Had 18 top-10 finishes. 1991 Finished career-best second in series points. Was topped in final standings by Dale Earnhardt, who won fifth championship. Made strong late-season charge to end 195 points behind Earnhardt; with eight races remaining in season, was ninth in points standings. Won at Darlington in the spring, his ninth consecutive season with a win. 1990 Finished seventh in series points. First season with Hendrick Motorsports. Won road-course race at Watkins Glen. Had poles at the Richmond spring race and the road race at Infineon. Extended streak of winning at least one race to eight seasons. 1989 Finished eighth in series points. Second and last season with Kenny Bernstein’s team. Won road race at Infineon; seventh consecutive season of winning at least once. 1988 Finished 11th in series points. First season with King Racing Team owned by drag-racing legend Kenny Bernstein. Won road race at Watkins Glen. Had three second-place finishes Had two poles, at Martinsville spring race and Riverside. Sixth consecutive season with at least one victory. 1987 Finished sixth in series points. Two victories, at Atlanta spring race and Dover fall race. Last season with Bud Moore Engineering. Fifth consecutive season with at least one victory. 1986 Finished fifth in series points. Two victories, at Martinsville spring race and Dover fall event. Had four runner- up efforts. 1985 Finished sixth in series points. Had 19 top-10 finishes, including victory at Riverside. 1984 Finished seventh in series points. First season with Bud Moore Engineering. Won Richmond fall race, and had four poles. 1983 Finished ninth in series points. Won at Riverside on June 5, for first career victory, in his 161st start. Won second race in September at Martinsville. Took pole for Daytona 500. Had four poles overall and five secondfast qualifying efforts. 1982 Finished ninth in series points. First of two seasons with Richard Childress Racing. Had two second-place runs. Poles at Martinsville and Dover fall races. 1981 Finished sixth in series points on the strength of 17 top-10 finishes. Joined DiGard Racing Got first career pole, at Martinsville on April 24. Also took poles at Nashville and Dover. 1980 Finished 35th in series points. Ran 13 races with father Al Rudd Jr.’s team. Gained attention by qualifying second and finishing fourth, at Charlotte fall race. 1979 Finished ninth in series points. Ran 28 races for Junie Donlavey. Season highlighted by two thirdplace finishes. 1978 Finished 31st in series points. Ran 13 races with father’s team. ... Four top-10 finishes highlighted season. 1977 Finished 17th in series points. Named Rookie of the Year. Ran 25 races with father’s team. 1976 Finished 53rd in series points. Ran four races with father’s team, one top-10 finish. 1975 Finished 47th in series points. Ran four races for Bill Champion. Made NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series debut March 2 at Rockingham, finishing 11th.

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY Started racing at age of nine; raced in motocross and go-karts as a teenager. Prior to his debut weekend in March 1975 at Rockingham, had never driven a stock car.

NOTEWORTHY Father Al Rudd Jr. owned an auto salvage business, which led to an interest in cars and racing. Owns a classic 1932 Ford Deuce Coupe. With 19 finishes in the NASCAR Top 10, Rudd is third on the NASCAR All-Time Top 10, behind only Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt. His 19 finishes in the NASCAR Top 10 leads active drivers. “Iron Man” string for consecutive starts dates to 1981.