HOMESTEAD, Fla. - As Ricky Rudd started his walk toward pit road for his final race, Leonard Wood was waiting with open arms.

Without saying a word, one of the founders of the famed Wood Brothers Racing team hugged his driver. Rudd uttered the words, "Thank you Mr. Leonard," then he continued his long walk to driver introductions.

Unlike Rusty Wallace, Rudd is leaving the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series without a lot of fanfare. There was no retirement tour, no proclamations, no gold watches.

And if it wasn't for his crew chief, Michael McSwain, Rudd's final race would have been forgotten in the drivers' meeting before the Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

McSwain walked to the microphone following another ceremony for Wallace - which included Wallace making a speech - with tears in his eyes to ask for the same kind of recognition for a driver who hasn't missed a start since 1981, a record run of 788 races.

Rudd didn't announce his retirement until last week. He had said all along he wanted it that way. He doesn't like retirement tours, calling them an opportunity for drivers to cash in on retirement souvenirs.

At the same time, McSwain wasn't happy that Rudd, a winner of 23 races, wasn't included in the festivities.

"I guess he wanted to remind everyone this was my last race," Rudd said.

BACK TO NORMAL: After trying to push its impound procedure all year, NASCAR apparently is parking it for 2006.

Prompted by network television's concerns over selling time trials on Saturdays, the sanctioning body said it likely will go back to the routine of practicing and qualifying Friday, practicing Saturday and racing Sunday.

The impound rule, which will remain in the Craftsman Truck and Busch series, calls for no practice after qualifying. Additionally, teams aren't allowed to make changes to the cars after time trials.

TRUEX back on top: Martin Truex Jr. crashed in qualifying Saturday, but rallied to finish seventh that night in the Ford 300 to defend his Busch Series title.

"We could not do anything right for the past two months and I'm just glad it's over with," Truex Jr. said. "I couldn't be prouder. This thing is three times harder than last year and I'm three times more proud of all these guys (at Chance 2 Motorsports)." Clint Bowyer finished second, losing by 68 points.

The top five drivers in the standings, including fourth-place Reed Sorenson and fifth-place Denny Hamlin, all will drive full-time in the Nextel Cup next year.

PIT STOPS: NASCAR may consider a separate point system for the 10 drivers in the Chase for the Championship.

The sanctioning body wants to reduce the penalty for a bad finish to promote more racing by the leaders.

In the first two years of the Chase, the winners have combined to win only one race during the playoffs.