After racing out of Stuart, Va., for more than 53 years, the [#21-Ricky Rudd] Wood Brothers Racing Team is considering moving its shop to the Charlotte area. “We’re looking at a lot of options to make our race team better, and moving to the Charlotte area is definitely one of the things we’ll have to look at,” said Eddie Wood, who runs the team with his brother Len and sister Kim. “That’s where everything is; all the technology is there.” Wood said the family likely will make a decision by the end of the year. He also said the team would like to field two cars, but getting the #21 Motorcraft/Air Force/Rent-A-Center Ford back in Victory Lane on a regular basis is its first priority. “Whatever it takes to make our race team better, that’s what we’re going to do,” he said. Even if the Woods move their shop to the Charlotte area, they’ll still have a presence in Stuart, their home- town. “The museum and the business part will always be in Stuart even if the cars and the teams are somewhere else,” he said.( Atlanta Journal-Constitution )(10-20-2003) UPDATE: Wood Brothers Racing announced Wednesday it has found a building in Mooresville, N.C., and will begin moving out of its current shop in Stuart, Va., on Monday. The search for a new race shop took several months, but owners Eddie and Len Wood ended up with a familiar location. The team is moving into property owned by Robert Yates Racing in Lakeside Business Park. Ironically, Yates bought it from driver Ricky Rudd, who now drives the #21 Fords for the Wood Brothers in Winston Cup. “It was the first building we thought of way back in the middle of the summer when we first started talking about moving, but all the parties just never got together until a few days ago,” Eddie Wood said. The #21 will continue to work on its 2004 cars in Stuart and its equipment when space becomes available. “Isnt it funny how things come full circle sometimes. I think it is a great move,” Rudd said. “I laid out the design of that shop, and we worked out of it not only when I had my own team, but then when I went with Robert. “A lot of good wins came out of that building. Maybe this will turn our luck around.” The move will allow the #21 to work more closely with Roush Racing, which is based in Concord, N.C. Roush provides engines and chassis assistance for the #21. Wood Brothers Racing has been located in Stuart for 53 years. The business office and the familys famed museum will remain at the current location.( ThatsRacin.com )(11-26-2003)
