The Dale Jr. Download – "NASCAR's Biggest Bada** – DJD Classics w/ Ricky Rudd"

Release Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Dirty Mo Media, SiriusXM)
Guest: Ricky Rudd
Episode Theme:
A deep-dive, classic conversation with NASCAR legend Ricky Rudd, exploring his raw beginnings, rise through stock car racing, unforgettable rivalries (notably with Dale Earnhardt Sr.), family roots, "badass" reputation, and the personal and physical trials that defined his storied career.

Episode Overview

In this fan-requested "DJD Classics" episode, Dale Jr. catches up with Ricky Rudd ("The Rooster") for an honest, high-energy walk through Rudd's path from go-karts and grassroots racing to battling the biggest names in NASCAR. The two cover Ricky’s early days, his family-powered climb, transitions between legendary teams, adrenaline-fueled incidents both on and off track, infamous rivalries and reconciliations, his perspective on NASCAR toughness, and enduring lessons from decades in the sport.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins – The Making of "The Rooster" (01:46–03:12)

• Nickname Origins:
  • Rudd is frequently called "The Rooster," a nickname given by crew chief Richard Broome for his feisty, never-back-down attitude behind the wheel.
  • “He says, ‘Man, if I can work and get you fired up on that steering wheel—you’ll attack anything. You're just a little guy, but you'll go after anything.’”—Ricky Rudd (02:21)
• Name Story:
  • Born “Richard Lee Rudd,” he’s unsure how he ended up with "Ricky," and notes the coincidental match to Richard Lee Petty.

2. Post-Retirement Lifestyle (03:38–08:24)

• Rudd enjoys life off-schedule, relishing a newfound freedom from the rigidity of the racing calendar.
• Hobbies include mountain biking and go-karting for adrenaline, though he admits he often takes things that are fun and turns them too competitive or intense.
• “I took something that was fun and made it more complex... I'm an adrenaline junkie.”—Ricky Rudd (05:22, 04:41)
• He and his son are now into small airplanes: “Linda calls it our ‘putt putt’ airplane... just put around.” (08:03)

3. Early Racing Roots – From Go Karts to Stock Cars (08:31–15:46)

• Grew up in a large family with a mechanically inclined dad who built the kids replica cars. Rudd’s persistence led him from those homemade go-karts to high-speed national karting circuits.
• His first step into stock cars was driving for Bill Champion, thanks to familial connections and volunteers.
• Reflects on the terror and rush of his first Cup laps at Daytona:
  • “Probably the most scared I've ever been in my life... driving a school bus and I'm running way too fast to be going.” (15:05)
  • Quote: “How long did it take to get over the fear?”—Dale Jr.
    “About 32 years.”—Ricky Rudd (16:05)

4. Family Racing – The Financial and Emotional Reality (20:41–24:24)

• The Rudd family operation was fueled by their junkyard’s profits—living on thin margins, scraping parts, and loading up volunteer help.
• Hotel rooms sometimes meant four or five guys flipping coins for the mattress vs. box springs.
• “Everything you could take—the junkyard went into that race.”—Ricky Rudd (22:33)
• Despite hard times, the family (and especially Rudd’s father) sacrificed to keep him racing.

5. Climbing the NASCAR Ladder & Key Team Relationships (24:24–31:44)

• Transitioned to working for Juni Dunleavy, who coached Rudd through short-track racing, emphasizing the lost art of one-on-one driver coaching.
• Short reflection on Die Guard Racing, including fraught contract details (“Ten year contract. My God. It definitely was one-sided.”—34:52).
• Early brush with legends like Harry Hyde, Randy Dorton, and significant “miracle” runs with small resources but key mentorship.

6. Friendship, Fallout, and Rivalry: The Earnhardt Sr. Years (36:32–54:43)

• Rudd and Earnhardt’s Early Friendship:
  • They were close, often staying at each other’s homes to save on expenses.
• The Swap Fallout:
  • Tensions rose after the notorious team swap (Bud Moore <-> Richard Childress) that saw Earnhardt Sr. replace Rudd at RCR.
  • “That's when the relationship got bad... It was almost like a family saying, ‘Hey, we're done with you, kid.’”—Rudd (41:21)
• Rudd admits to feeling betrayed by sharing inside info with Dale, only to lose his seat shortly after.
  • Quote: “I was disappointed with Richard and pissed off that Senior was... I'm sitting there spilling my guts about what we got planned... and all of a sudden he ends up with it.”—Ricky Rudd (43:24)
• The rivalry included on-track paybacks (Wilkesboro 1988, 1989), fines, and nearly riotous scenes in the garage (50:15).
• They patched things up, finally, sharing a meal and support—“It was good. We had a real good dinner. It was just like a family squabble… eventually, you clean stuff up.” (54:04–54:36)

7. Famous Dust-Ups & NASCAR's Physicality (44:27–62:09)

• Wilkesboro '88/'89:
  • Detailed recounting of their infamous clashes—spins, paybacks, and NASCAR’s president waiting at Rudd’s car, resulting in a $10,000 fine for “conduct detrimental…”
  • “I'm really disappointed in myself... I didn't run that son…”—Ricky Rudd (46:37, 46:56)
• Garage Bust-ups:
  • Describes near riots post-race, staying low “with a blanket over me” to avoid fans, fraught physical run-ins with crew members, and being “saved” by Larry McReynolds pulling him out of confrontation.
• On the perception of being a "badass" or hothead:
  • “A lot of people say it's just a screw loose somewhere... Maybe you have to agree with them a little bit.” (57:08)

8. Empathy, Maturity, and Healing Old Rivalries (54:45–55:44, 57:53–61:31)

• Later in life, Rudd reflects on how age softened rivalries, even with Rusty Wallace and Kevin Harvick.
• He admits isolating himself after the Earnhardt fallout, never letting other drivers get too close—“That was always in the back of my mind.” (55:00)

9. The Daytona Crash & The Legend of Toughness (62:29–71:03)

• 1984 Daytona Bush Clash:
  • Rudd shares harrowing details of his horrific flip, blacking out, seeing video of his arms flailing outside the car, and the seat bottom breaking. He credits “the good lord” for surviving.
  • “My wife Linda... I had to go to the mirror... and I didn't even look like me.” (66:50)
• Taping His Eyes Open:
  • Emergency adaptation: “Some duct tape laying there... cut up some duct tape and just taped the swollen eyes up.” (67:27)
• Lingered neurological issues (vision blackouts from G-force), and the evolution of safety, mental/physical health.
• Yet, days later, he returned to win at Richmond, solidifying his ironman reputation.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On friendship and betrayal:
  • “It was almost like a family saying, ‘Hey, we're done with you, kid.’” (41:21)
• On the ferocity of short-lived friendships:
  • “I never got close to any drivers the whole time—kind of isolated myself... that was always in the back of my mind.” (55:00)
• On on-track retaliation:
  • “I'm really disappointed in myself... I'm disappointed I didn't run that son…” (46:56)
• On the Daytona crash aftermath:
  • “Some duct tape laying there... cut up some duct tape and just taped the swollen eyes up... it fixed it.” (67:27)
• Self-characterization:
  • “A lot of people say it's just a screw loose somewhere... Maybe you have to agree with them a little bit.” (57:08)
• On rivalry with Earnhardt Sr.:
  • “We had a good dinner... it was just like a family squabble...” (54:36)
• On the hardships of early racing:
  • “If we needed a piece of sheet metal, we went out in the backyard junkyard and find the biggest Cadillac with a good hood on it... that's how we built race cars back then.” (24:06)

Important Timestamps (Selected)

• 02:21 — Origin of the "Rooster" nickname
• 03:45 — Rudd's post-retirement, no-schedule philosophy
• 08:31 — Early go-karting and family sacrifices
• 13:42 — First-ever Cup race for Bill Champion, terrified at Daytona
• 24:06 — Scrapping cars and volunteer-driven racing operations
• 41:21–43:54 — The Childress/Earnhardt swap, the pain of lost friendship and trust
• 45:54–47:11 — Bill France Jr. confrontation/fine after Wilkesboro run-in
• 50:41 — Post-Wilkesboro riot, laying low in van
• 54:04–54:36 — Reconciliation with Earnhardt Sr., dinner at P.F. Chang's
• 62:29–71:03 — Detailed recounting of the 1984 Daytona crash, taping eyes open for 500

Final Segment – Rudd’s Reflections & Sign-Off (71:22–73:29)

• Dale Jr. notes how much ground that remains untraveled in Rudd’s rich career (owner years, Yates, Wood Brothers), with an open invitation to return for a Part II.
• Rudd, ever-humble: “If you get... negative feedback, but this guy’s rambling...”
• Behind-the-scenes laughs about tracking down Rudd, given his aversion to schedules and multiple phone numbers.
• Endearing, grateful tone from both—two generations bonding over what makes racing, and racers, unforgettable.

Conclusion

This episode is both a tribute and a masterclass on grit, loyalty, bruising competition, and the bonds—sometimes broken, sometimes mended—that fuel NASCAR’s vibrant history. Ricky Rudd’s blend of humility, candor, and earned bravado makes this conversation a must-listen for any fan of the sport’s golden era and anyone fascinated by the realities behind the racing legend.

[For a more detailed or specific segment, refer to the minute-marks above.]