A TUMS’ “Fights back fast” MOMENT
(For each of the 36 races during the 2011 Sprint Cup season, TUMS will provide a brief historical recap of a moment when a team fought back to overcome an obstacle, one that can easily be described as a TUMS “Fights Back Fast” Moment. This week, the focus is on Watkins Glen International).
Ricky Rudd edged Rusty Wallace for his ninth career win
The date was Aug. 14, 1988. Ricky Rudd, driver of the No. 26 Quaker State Buick, fought back from an early unscheduled pit stop and used eight caution flags to get back in contention to win the ‘Budweiser At The Glen Winston Cup’ road course event.
NOTE: TUMS is the sponsor of the TUMS Fast Relief 500, the seventh race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, at Martinsville Speedway on October 30.
The Chesapeake, Va. native had to hold off a determined Rusty Wallace, in the Blue-Max Racing Pontiac, in the final four laps to secure the win. Rudd edged Wallace after the two drivers endured a fender-bending last lap dash to win by less than two car lengths.
Rudd fell to 38th on lap 20 of the 90-lap race on the 2.4-mile road course when he was forced to pit for tires. Veteran driver Darrell Waltrip seemed to be cruising to the win until an engine issue developed. As the two NASCAR stars got past Waltrip, both were sideways through the final turn with the checkered flag in sight. Rudd had the edge by a fender and went to victory lane.
“Rusty gave me a pretty good pop in the rear,” Rudd said. “I thought we were both going to wreck, or at least go across the line sideways.”
