Carl Edwards and Ricky Rudd had very little overlap in their respective NASCAR careers. Edwards only entered the the elite Cup Series in 2004 — a mere 67 races before Rudd ended his 32-year career — so the two never got a chance to know one another.

When Ricky Rudd and Carl Edwards both left NASCAR after their driving careers ended, they disappeared from the sport, going years before returning to the track. Friday night, it was as if they hadn’t left.

The 68-year-old made his mark with 23 Cup Series victories, including a thrilling win at the 1997 Brickyard 400.