Yates team pulls Rudd out of retirement

Thursday, December 21st 2006, 11:10 am

By: News On 6

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) Robert Yates is bringing Ricky Rudd out of retirement to keep his sinking race team afloat, signing him Thursday to drive the full Nextel Cup schedule in 2007.

Masterfoods USA will sponsor the car, with its Snickers brand as the primary paint scheme. The car number was not immediately disclosed, but Yates needed a sponsor for his flagship No. 88 Ford.

Rudd spent three successful years with Yates driving the No. 28 Ford, a car not currently in use. The team combined for three victories and a fourth-place finish in the 2001 standings.

``We are excited to welcome Ricky back to the team,'' team owner Yates said. ``We all realize Ricky's talent, and to have him return to the organization is a huge plus for us.''

The team has been in a free fall almost all season. Former series champion Dale Jarrett left the No. 88 to drive a new Toyota, and sponsor UPS followed him. Elliott Sadler, the driver who replaced Rudd at Yates in 2003, used a clause in his contract to leave the team for Evernham Motorsports.

David Gilliland, who parlayed a fluke Busch Series victory in June into a Cup ride, replaced Sadler in the No. 38 Ford. That car is sponsored by Masterfoods' M&M's brand.

But until Masterfoods agreed to sponsor a second car, Yates was in danger of having to fold that team. Landing the sponsor was still only half the battle, Yates also needed a driver, preferably a veteran who could mentor Gilliland.

He found it in Rudd, a 31-year veteran of the Cup series.

Rudd left Yates on somewhat acrimonious terms after the 2002 season to drive for the Wood Brothers, and left racing altogether following the 2005 season. It ended his NASCAR record of 789 consecutive Cup starts.

Other than a one-race substitution for the injured Tony Stewart in July, Rudd largely was absent from the NASCAR scene and spent most of his time tending to his North Carolina farm. He jumped at that opportunity to drive when Stewart had a broken shoulder blade.

``It was a real, real tough call,'' Rudd said back in June. ``Do I cut grass for six hours a day this weekend or do I go out to Dover and drive a race car? It wasn't a real hard decision about what I wanted to do.''