Ricky Rudd, who has missed the last four races and is on the sidelines again this week, said Friday he hopes to be back in Robert Yates Racing’s #88 Ford at Lowe’s Motor Speedway next weekend. Rudd separated his left shoulder in a grinding crash at California Speedway on Sept. 2. “It’s getting better,” Rudd said. “I’ve got a few weak areas I’m working on with therapy, trying to get some strength back. “I’d hate to sit here and say, ‘Yeah, 100 percent, I’ll back at Charlotte.’ But I’ll be real disappointed if I don’t make it back at Charlotte, I’ll put it that way.” Rudd would still need approval from NASCAR to return to action. “The biggest thing is somewhere along the way, I’ve got to get a release,” Rudd said. “I’ve got to go back to the doctor. I’ve pretty much been in the hands of one of the sports medicine trainers. That’s who I go see, about an hour-and-a-half every day. “The workouts get long and longer, so I’ll probably know about 12:30 on Monday what’s going to happen for Charlotte.” Rudd said he had no strength in his left arm after the crash and couldn’t drive a street car. He said the arm has probably 60-70% of its strength back. Following the Charlotte race, the Nextel Cup Series moves to the tough Martinsville short track, a Rudd favorite. But he isn’t sure if he’ll be ready for Martinsville.(SceneDaily.com)(10-6-2007)
