Injured Rudd in doubt for Richmond

Rudd didn't get to celebrate in the best of ways his 900th career start at California Speedway, having retired from the race after being involved in a multi-car incident where he was an innocent victim of previous contact between Jeff Gordon and Jeremy Mayfield on lap 179.

The Yates driver was holding his left arm as he went into the ambulance following the crash and was then taken to a local hospital for precautionary checks, where X-rays revealed he had separated his shoulder.

Rudd was in fact briefly knocked unconscious in the crash, which happened at full speed on the front stretch.

"I didn't see anything," Rudd said. "I didn't see it coming because it was behind me. Next thing I know I'm handing a right down the straightaway and headed straight for the fence. There was no time to even brace for it.

"That lap or two is out of my memory. I was awake when I stopped. But I tried to unbuckle and couldn't because my shoulder just wouldn't work."

Apparently Rudd's shoulder was injured when it hit the left-hand side headrest. The extent of the separation could even require surgery, making his participation in this weekend's race at Richmond uncertain at his point.

The 50-year old is in his final full season of Nextel Cup racing after returning this year, having taken a sabbatical in 2006. He recently announced he would not return to his current team next year.