For those who say NASCAR drivers are not athletes, they didn't watch the 1998 Napa Autocare 500 at Martinsville Speedway.
Remembered by many who watched that afternoon as one of their favorites, It had everything fans want -- drivers overcoming unbearable circumstances and a driver who had the ride of his life -- so happy he couldn’t even speak.
With September temperatures reaching mid 90s and reaching a miserable 150 degrees inside the cars, many drivers had a difficult time dealing with the heat and driving the tough racetrack. Even the winner had a relief driver standing by.
When the green finally fell, many drivers were feeling the effects of extreme heat and the rough and toughness of Martinsville Speedway. Ted Musgrave was the first to feel the heat. He was subbing for an injured Robert Pressley and Steve Grissom stepped in to relief Musgrave.
Musgrave said “ I have a blistered butt,” refuring the extreme heat on the seat. Another driver who nearly passed out was rookie Kenny Irwin Jr. Irwin gave up his No. 28 Robert Yates Ford to Kenny Wallace. Wallace drove the car to a 27th-place finish. Grissom finished 15th.
Outside pole-sitter Ricky Rudd had a problem as well. The cooling fan in Rudd's No. 10 car broke on lap one. Rudd would have to deal with the heat, with no cooling system whatsoever.
Rudd, who had Hut Stricklin standing by, was woozy and feeling the effects.
“At lap 20, I said no way. At lap 100, I said no way, you need someone in this car.” Rudd said.
However, Rudd was fast. He passed Jeff Burton on lap 405 to take the lead. Rudd was trying to make history.
Before this race Rudd had won a race every season since 1983. That’s 15 consecutive seasons with a win, the most in NASCAR history. Rudd hadn’t yet won in 1998, and had his best opportunity to continue the streak at Martinsville.
Rudd was burning inside the racecar but continued on. Crew chief Bill Ingle kept giving Rudd ice packs and spraying cold water down his back during pit stops. Rudd was still feeling it. As the laps were ticking down, the lead was stretching for Rudd. Rudd crossed the finish line and his Tide Ford crawled to the center of the front stretch for victory lane.
Rudd was exhausted.
Yet, there was another heroic day for another driver in the field. Rich Bickle, a driver from Edgerton, Wisc., was having the run of his life. Bickle was the man in control of Cale Yarborough’s No. 98 Ford and gave it a whale of a ride.
Many fans and drivers had a soft spot for Bickle, always known as a great driver who never really got a great opportunity in the NASCAR Cup Series. He won the snowball derby five times, and his Cup career was a wrong way to look at Bickle’s ability. An emotional Bickle stood by his car and said, “This is winning for me, thanks,” as tears of joy were falling from face. The hard work had paid off for Bickle and many people that afternoon felt good for him.
As strange and memorable as Bickle’s interview was, it was nothing compared to Rudd’s victory lane interview. ESPN kicked it over to Dr. Jerry Punch, who was in victory lane with Rudd -- only Rudd wasn’t seen. It took the viewers a minute to realize the Rudd was lying down on his back with cold cloths around him and his suit, off.
Rudd had a white shirt, a Tide hat and an oxygen mask on. He had blisters on his back, butt and arms, but yet that didn’t keep him out of the car.
“It was pretty much unbearable," Rudd said. "Talk about playing psychological games with yourself, I was playing them today."
Rudd may not remember the last 100 laps, but fans certianly do. It was one of the most herioc wins in NASCAR history, and it will be imprinted in people's minds forever.
