Rudd to quit Yates and Cup racing

The 50-year-old returned this season after having a year off from the Nextel Cup schedule in 2006, racing only once as replacement for Tony Stewart.

However, things have not gone well for Rudd and his team in their reunion, despite sweeping the front row of the grid with teammate David Gilliland in the opening event of the season at Daytona.

Rudd and Yates had enjoyed success together between 2000 and 2002, winning races, poles and having a shot at the title. Rudd currently lies 29th in the Nextel Cup points, one place behind his teammate, and with one top 10 as his best result.

"I don't really know what the future holds," Rudd said. "But continuing to race in Cup was more of a time commitment than I was willing to put in. I wanted to go ahead and let Robert (Yates) know so he can makes his plans for next season."

Rudd holds the record for the most consecutive Nextel Cup starts with 788 events raced between 1981 and 2005.

He said he would consider racing a number of events next year for a top team but stated that he will not be pursuing such opportunity and that he would be happy to leave the Nextel Cup for good.

Rudd also admitted he had turned down an offer to commentate for ESPN due to the travel schedule and the sacrifices such a job required from him.

Despite his uncertainty about what he will be doing next year, he is looking forward to what the future holds.

"It's not like, 'Oh, man, what am I going to do with my life?'" Rudd added. "I'm kind of looking forward to the next chapter. I just don't know what it is yet."

Rudd is expected to complete the balance of the season driving the No. 88 Ford for Yates/Newman/Haas/Lanigan Racing.