"... to arrive at 800, a lot of guys never see it because age gets them first."

Ricky Rudd, driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft Taurus, will reach another milestone on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway when he becomes just the fourth driver in NASCAR Winston Cup Series history to make 800 career starts. Earlier this season, Rudd became the first driver in series history to make 700 consecutive starts at Pocono in July. Rudd, who competed in his first NWC race in 1975, also shares the modern-era record for consecutive seasons with at least one victory, 16 (1983 - 1998).

Ricky Rudd has averaged a 22nd place finish at Atlanta over the past five years. Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The numbers are adding up. I would rather be talking about going to Atlanta with five wins, and obviously we haven't done that this year. I'm proud of the fact that we're at 800, but by the same token, I'd rather low-profile it because it seems like so many of things have been about the number of starts, and I'm proud of it. But I'm more proud of my win streaks, like the 16 years in a row. My career is winding down, there's no secret about that, I've got a couple of years left in this business, and I would rather be thought of for the win streak and things like that, than the guy that went out there and ran 10,000 races.

It's nice the fans have supported me all these years. I think they're really proud of that -- that and the Iron Man. And I am, too, but I'd rather not be remembered in a couple years when I step aside as a guy that ran all these races. The consecutive start is something to be proud of. I'm more proud of that than I am, I guess, of getting 800 races.

To put 800 starts into perspective, you're still only two-thirds of the way to Richard Petty's record of 1,177.

I don't see guys in the future running as many races. You know, I got started in this business running Winston Cup when I was 18, so to arrive at 800, a lot of guys never see it because age gets them first. In this sport, until recently, you were considered in your prime in your mid-30s and your peak wasn't until your late 40s. So, those numbers are changing a little bit now, with a lot of the young guys coming in today. When I say young, most of these guys who are called young are in their low-to-mid 20s, the majority of them. So I don't think you'll see the younger guys today pile up 800 starts or 700 consecutive. I don't think you'll see that just because they're getting a little bit later start and I don't see them going and driving as long as I have or the guys before me have.

Is Atlanta Motor Speedway still considered the fastest track the series visits? 

It was when it was newly surfaced. The track has slowed down some because it has weathered, and it has weathered out quite a bit. You know, it's still pretty quick in qualifying trim. But, actually, by the track itself slowing down naturally with just the wear and tear on it, I think the competitors like it better because, it's not just speed-related. The track has got grip in the upper grooves, and I think that's the key. I think by it slowing down because of the wear, it's forced guys to go to the top of the race track some. So I guess what I like more about Atlanta now is the speeds are down a little bit, which allows for better racing because you can run side-by-side because the track is not a bottom-groove only track, it is a multiple-groove track. And when it was really fast, it wasn't multiple groove, it was right on the bottom.

From a racer's perspective, when you see Atlanta on the schedule, what's the first thing that pops into your mind?

I look it and I say, 'Oh, no.' Everybody's got their strong tracks and weak tracks, and Atlanta has been one of my trouble tracks for years. I've won there, years ago on the old track, but the new track, I just seem to struggle with getting the car set up correctly to run there. Hopefully, it's time to change that, and we're optimistic when we go back, I think some of the things we've learned in recent weeks, I think, can help us there. Again, it's probably the only track on the circuit that when I see it coming up on the schedule, I look at it and say, 'Man, I really struggle with that track.' That's the only one on the circuit that I can think of that gives me a fit like that.

Ricky Rudd drives the No. 21 Motorcraft Racing Ford Taurus owned by Wood Brothers Racing.