Ricky Rudd was born in Chesapeake, Virginia, to Margaret Ellen (McMannen) and Alvin Ray Rudd, Sr., the president of Al Rudd Auto Parts. He burst into the NASCAR Winson Cup Series in 1975 at Rockingham, NC and was rookie of the year in 1977. 1983 was a great year - Rudd winning his first race at Riverside International Raceway in Riverside, California, and Tim Richmond and Bill Elliott got their wins there, too. Since driving in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series, Rudd has started in almost 800 races and won 23 races and earned almost $28 million in 28 years of racing. In 2003, he started driving for the legendary Wood Brothers Racing Team at the Daytona International Speedway after losing his ride with Rober Yates Racing in 2002. Today, he is still driving in the Nascar Nextel Cup series and is known as the Ironman after passing Terry Labonte in starts. His nephew (sister's son) is actor Skeet Ulrich.