yo ricky.....

[gomick]

i know its late, but congrats to ricky rudd on winning for 1st time in ages - 80 odd races i think......i missed the race but how tight is the points battle at the top - its a fantastic season i reckon

[Joe Fan]

Jeff Gordon leads Dale Jarrett by 36 points. This should definately be a better championship race than last year when Bobby Labonte ran away with it.

With Ricky's win, he is in the hunt for the championship big time as he is currently sitting in third place in the points, just 130 back. It is good to see Ricky do so well. I have always like him because he is a very laid back, unassuming type of guy. Ricky is also a very underrated driver who is most definately championship material. I would have to say that Ricky is just as good as both of the Labonte brothers who have both won Winston Cup championships. Despite Ricky's low key personality, I remember Buddy Baker saying one time that Ricky was a great driving talent who will "bang on you and let you know that he is there when it is time to go."

As big of a Dale Jarrett fan that I am, it would not hurt my feelings to see his teammate Rudd win the championship.