Charlotte, NC – When Ricky Rudd and Carl Edwards both left Nascar after the end of their driving career, they disappeared from sport, spending years before returning to the track.
Friday evening, it was as if they did not leave.
The two paid in the celebration of their induction at the Nascar’s fame at the Charlotte Convention Center. Rudd and Edwards were joined in the 2025 class by Ralph Moody, the famous car manufacturer.
Edwards was inducted by his mother Nancy Sterling.
“Tonight is a question of gratitude,” said Edwards in his speech after thanking the sport for kissing him when he was in sport and his return last year. Edwards then thanked family members, team members and sport for their support throughout his driving career.
“Thank you for giving me part of your family,” said Edwards at the end of his speech. “Thank you Nascar.”
Rudd was inducted by his son Landon and spoke of his trip at the time.
“With the help of many great people, I was able to continue my dreams and with the induction of this evening, this dream is now complete,” said Rudd.
Their speeches were observed by 16 members of the NASCAR renowned temple. Present were: Donnie Allison, Chad Knaus, Kirk Shelmerdine, Red Farmer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Gibbs, Waddell Wilson, Ron Hornaday Jr., Ray Evernham, Richard Childress, Terry Labonte, Jerry Cook, Leonard Wood, Rusty Wallace, Dale Inman and Richard Petty.
Edwards, with the help of Joe Gibbs Racing, stole several people from Missouri to share this experience.
“I do not miss this opportunity to celebrate this,” said Edwards on the red carpet before his enthronement. “You have seen a lot of backflips. You saw me celebrate, but one of the things I bordered in my career is that I am not proud not to celebrate internally.
“I said,” I’m going to win. I’m going to be happy for a minute and I finished ‘and then I would continue like a machine and it was bad. When they said I could bring people, I said we will make sure it is fun. We will make sure that there is a real celebration. “”
Rudd enjoyed the night for all those he could see.
“It feels good to see everyone again,” said Rudd on the red carpet before his induction.
Rudd, Edwards and Moody are the 15th class of the Nascar Hall of Fame. They are inducted n ° 65, 66 and 67.
Edwards is the second pilot in the room whose cup debut came in the 2000s, joining Jimmie Johnson (2024 class)
Edwards made his cup debut in August 2004 in Michigan. He finished 10th.
Edwards won 28 cup races – including the Southern 500 and Coca -Cola 600 – and 72 races in total in the first three series of NASCAR. He also won the 2007 Xfinity championship and finished finalist of the Cup Cup twice, including 2011 when he lost the championship against Tony Stewart on a break in equality.
Rudd was known as Ironman of Nascar for starting 788 consecutive races – a record he owned until Jeff Gordon broke him in 2015. Rudd won 23 victories, marking at least one victory in the Cup for 16 consecutive seasons. Among his victories, there was the Brickyard 400 1997 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He was the recruit of the year of the 1977 Cup.
Moody formed with John Holman in 1957 to form Holman-Moody Racing. The team, which contributed until 1973, won championships with David Pearson in 1968 and 1969 and won the Daytona 500 with Mario Andretti. The team collected 96 victories and 83 poles.
Dr. Dean Sicking, who invented the safer barrier used on the slopes through car sports, received the Landmark prize for its contributions to Nascar.
Mike Harris, a long-standing writer from Motorsports for the Associated Press, received the Squier-Hall Award for Nascar Media Excellence.
