Carl Edwards, Ricky Rudd expresses gratitude with induction to Nascar Hall of Fame

Charlotte, NC – When Ricky Rudd and Carl Edwards both left Nascar after their driving careers ended, they disappeared from the sport and returned years before the track.

Friday night it was as if they were not gone.

Both looked at the celebration of their induction at the Nascar Hall of Fame in the Charlotte Convention Center. Rudd and Edwards were joined in the class of 2025 by Ralph Moody, the famous car builder.

Edwards was recorded by his mother, Nancy Sterling.

“Tonight is about gratitude,” Edwards said in his speech after resigning the sport for embracing him when he was in the sport and when he returned last year. Edwards thanks family members, team members and the sport for their support during his career.

“Thank you for making me a part of your family,” Edwards said at the end of his speech. “Thanks Nascar.”

Rudd was recorded by his son Landon and talked about his journey to this moment.

“With the help of many wonderful people, I was able to chase my dreams and with tonight’s induction that dream is now completed,” Rudd said.

Their speeches were seen by 16 Nascar Hall of Fame members. The attendance was: Donnie Allison, Chad Know, Kirk Shelmerdine, Red Farmer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Gibbs, Waddell Wilson, Ron Hornaday Jr., Ray Evernham, Richard Childress, Terry Labonte, Jerry Cook, Rustty Wallace, Dale Inman and Richard Petty.

With the help of Joe Gibbs Racing, Edwards flew several people from Missouri to share this experience.

“I don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate it,” Edwards said on the red carpet before his induction. “You’ve seen a lot of planes. You have seen me celebrate, but one of the things I found in my career is that I was proud not to celebrate internally.

“I said,” I’m going to win. I’m going to be happy for a moment and I’m done ‘and then I’m going on like a machine and it was wrong. When they said I could bring people with you, I said we were going to make sure it was nice. We’re going to make sure there’s a real celebration. ‘

Rudd enjoyed the night for everyone he had to see.

“It just feels good to see everyone again,” Rudd said on the red carpet before his induction.

Rudd, Edwards and Moody are the 15th class in the Nascar Hall of Fame. This is inductees no. 65, 66 and 67.

Edwards is the second driver in the hall whose debut came in the 2000s and joined Jimmie Johnson (class of 2024)

Edwards made his cup debut in Michigan in August 2004. He finished 10th.

Edwards won 28 cup races, including the Southern 500 and Coca-Cola 600 and 72 total racing in the top three series of NASCAR. He also won the Xfinity Championship in 2007 and finished runner-up for the Cup Crown twice, including 2011 when he lost the championship against Tony Stewart on a binder.

Rudd was known as the Nascar Ironman for the start of 788 consecutive racing – a record he held until Jeff Gordon broke it in 2015. Rudd achieved 23 wins and achieved at least one cup victory for 16 consecutive seasons. Under his victories was the 1997 Brickyard 400 on Indianapolis car Speedway. He was the 1977 Cup Rookie of the Year.

Moody formed with John Holman in 1957 to form Holman-Moody Racing. The team, which competed in 1973, won in 1968 and ’69 championships with David Pearson and won the Daytona 500 with Mario Andretti. The team collected 96 wins and 83 poles.

Dr. Dean Sicking, who invented the safer barrier that received the tracks used by motorsports, received the Landmark Award for its contributions to NASCAR.

Mike Harris, a long-time motorsport writer for the Associated Press, received the Squier-Hall Award for media excellence.