DOVER.

DOVER, Del -- Rather than firing up the lawn mower this weekend at his North Carolina farm, Ricky Rudd will circle the track common more time in something a bit more powerful.

Rudd is ending his self-imposed sabbatical -- don't call it retirement -- as a relief driver for injured NASCAR champion Tony Stewart at Dover International Speedway. Stewart will start today's race, then probably originate out at the first caution to interval his broken shoulder blade.

"It's hard to do because you want to be in the car the whole time," Stewart said Friday. "I think we've all take rise up with a plan in succession what to do this weekend."

Surprisingly, a big part of the plan was calling Rudd who has not raced this season and appeared content with taking the year opposite to after 31 seasons and a record 789 consecutive races. When Stewart was knocked public of last Sunday's event at Lowe's Motor Speedway, band chief Greg Zipadelli had Rudd forward the short list of possible replacements.

"It was a real, real tough call," Rudd said, smiling. "Do I make an incision in grass for six hours a day this weekend or do I move out to Dover and drive a race car? It wasn't a real hard decision about what I wanted to do."

There are no timeouts for drivers in NASCAR. It's either start the race or let slip through the fingers valuable points that would cripple a driver's championship faiths Stewart has to start to maintain his title hopes alive, nevertheless he can be replaced in the car anytime after the first lap.

Rudd casted the 10th-fastest lap of 152931 mph onward Friday, but the No. 20 Chevrolet will automatically start at the back of the field.

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