Rusty Wallace, Ricky Rudd on Dover II

Following are comments from Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd, who both spoke today about last weekend's post-race at Dover RUSTY WALLACE --2-- Miller Lite Taurus YOU'VE BEEN IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WITH OTHER DRIVERS BEFORE, HOW DO YOU HANDLE ...

Following are comments from Rusty Wallace and Ricky Rudd, who both spoke today about last weekend's post-race at Dover

RUSTY WALLACE --2-- Miller Lite Taurus
YOU'VE BEEN IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WITH OTHER DRIVERS BEFORE, HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT? "I guess all I've got to say, first of all, is that I like Ricky Rudd. I do and I really respect his driving. He's been driving a little longer than I have and you've got to be happy for a guy that is doing as well as he is this year, especially with having a shot at the championship and all. But when I got the shot in the rear end at Bristol, that really ruffled my feathers. I didn't think that was the way Ricky Rudd ever drove. He doesn't drive that way. I think the championship is so important to him this year that he got real aggressive and he took a shot that he probably shouldn't have. Unfortunately, with me, if you bang on me, you're gonna get banged back and then it's even -- then it's done and over. He banged on me and I showed some frustration afterwards at Bristol, but in my mind I still wasn't comfortable. Then when he lapped me the other day and he banged on me when he went by me -- if he wouldn't have touched me when he went by me, I would have never done anything. But when he touched me, it really riled me up. As far as I'm concerned right now, it's even and it's over. I still like him and I still respect him. We're both big guys and we'll get over it. We've both been in bad situations like that with hot tempers. I've got a temper and he's got a temper, but I still have the highest respect for his driving capabilities and it's done."

RICKY RUDD --28-- Texaco Havoline Taurus
YOU'VE BEEN IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS WITH OTHER DRIVERS BEFORE, HOW DO YOU HANDLE IT? "I don't know. I've been at it a long time and I guess I'm not very good at what the proper reaction is supposed to be other than to say there was disappointment. That's probably the biggest thing, but that's all I'm gonna say. As far as I'm concerned I'm not really gonna comment on it anymore. We had a meeting today in private with NASCAR and Rusty, and I feel like it's a dead end issue and it's over with."