December 5, 2002

The Silly Season started early this year. Springtime is a time for renewal and new life but little did we know it also meant a fresh start for some teams. Speculation - and even dismissals - began swirling in May. Steve Park, Jerry Nadeau, Elliott Sadler, and Ricky Rudd found themselves in the midst of the rumor mill.

Jerry Nadeau and Rick Hendrick amicably parted company in mid-May and seemingly started the domino effect. After the split, neither Nadeau nor Hendrick had a bad word to say about the other. Perhaps this was a sign of things to come. Perhaps this Silly Season would not be too dysfunctional. Nadeau went on to substitute for the injured Johnny Benson and eventually found his way to the #44 Petty Enterprises Dodge before Nadeau himself was sidelined with injuries. Throughout his rollercoaster ride this season, Nadeau held his head high and always took the high road. Team owners and crew chiefs spoke positively about the skill and knowledge this substitute driver brought to their teams - however temporary his role was. Perhaps this Silly Season wouldn't be so bad afterall.

In June, Steve Park's own Silly Season started. Fresh off a head injury that sidelined him for six months, Park found himself amidst a hornets nest of rumor that had Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI) reportedly seeking open wheel or younger talent for the #1 Pennzoil Chevrolet. Park himself emphatically pledged his allegiance to DEI. He repeatedly stated his preference to stay in the #1 car - yet he felt his hands were tied given the contract they offered him. Eventually, Park's situation was settled as he accepted a one-year contract extension from DEI in mid-August. While he will likely find himself in the same negotiation and renewal situation next spring, this Silly Season hadn't degenerated to the inane quite yet. This was manageable.

What could possibly come next? Enter Ricky Rudd. Rudd supposedly contemplated retirement so that he could spend more time with his family. Rumor had it that if Rudd signed to drive next year, he wanted a short-term contract. Somehow, Robert Yates and Rudd found no compromise. Throughout negotiations, Rudd spoke publicly to the media about how disappointed he was with Yates' indecision and supposed inaction. Rudd also openly stipulated his conditions for staying at Robert Yates Racing - including retaining Fat Back as his crew chief -- and freely speculated about his place at RYR with the apparent signing of Elliott Sadler.

Sadler himself then entered the Silly Season mix. Sadler had already publicly stated that he would not return to the Wood Brothers in 2003. However, he never revealed what his 2003 plans entailed, saying only that he was not free to discuss it yet. Well, Rudd blew that out of the water and dragged him into the very public RYR nightmare.

Rudd's self-imposed deadlines for revealing his 2003 plans came and went - numerous times, and as each deadline past, the situation got worse and worse. Wide speculation throughout the racing community had him definitely departing RYR and interviewing with numerous other teams - all without official confirmation. Rumors spread quickly that there may have been very strong disagreements with perspective team owners that eventually killed any deal that may have been in the works.

Every week, Rudd's situation deteriorated as he continued to publicly air his disappointment with RYR all while coyly eluding to possibilities with other teams. Speculation about where Rudd would end up in 2003 became more complex than Tim Russert's whiteboard charting during the 2000 Presidential election. And everyone waited patiently for Rudd's decision, feeling that all of the Silly Season dominoes would then fall into place after he made a commitment.

Finally, RYR announced that Sadler would drive the #38 M&M/Mars Ford in 2003. And Sadler revealed that in order to avoid a lame duck situation for the remainder of the season, he had reached an agreement with the Wood Brothers and would return all of his winnings to the team for the rest of 2002.

Then, Rudd declared that he would drive the #21 Ford Motorcraft car for the Wood Brothers in 2003. That's when Silly Season got "Beyond Ridiculous." Internal fights ensued on the #28 team. Rudd had a public fight with a Robert Yates Racing employee after supposedly complaining about the engines in the 28 car. Michael "Fatback" McSwain prematurely departed RYR, despite the fact that he was to have been Sadler's crew chief in 2003.

Ricky Rudd's behavior since June was juvenile and inappropriate at almost every turn. As a twenty year veteran, Rudd should have known better than to air his negotiations and grievances in public. Rather, he chose to act childishly and whine about his "unfortunate" situation every week as this drama unfolded.

Ricky, take a lesson from your replacement at RYR, for Sadler's actions proved he is a classy, respectful young man. And congratulations to Elliott Sadler, for handling a delicate situation with such rare sensitivity. Your actions taught us all a valuable lesson this Ridiculous, Absurd, Silly Season.

You can send feedback to L.M. Burke at: Insider Racing News

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