<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-11-014576.txt : 20111031
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-11-014576.hdr.sgml : 20111031
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20111031151544
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-11-014576
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20111027
FILED AS OF DATE:		20111031
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20111031

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Thor James E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001300922

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20797
		FILM NUMBER:		111168086

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RUSH ENTERPRISES, INC.
		STREET 2:		P. O. BOX 34630
		CITY:			SAN ANTONIO
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78265

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUSH ENTERPRISES INC \TX\
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001012019
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-AUTO DEALERS & GASOLINE STATIONS [5500]
		IRS NUMBER:				741733016
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TX
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		555 IH 35 SOUTH
		CITY:			NEW BRAUNFELS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78130
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8306265200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		555 IH 35 SOUTH
		CITY:			NEW BRAUNFELS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78130
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-10-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001012019</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RUSH ENTERPRISES INC \TX\</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RUSH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001300922</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Thor James E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>555 IH 35 SOUTH, SUITE 500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW BRAUNFELS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78130</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-10-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7226</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.40</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21421</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-10-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7226</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.1073</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14195</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.40</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-10-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7226</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7226</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7774</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes unvested restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 74 shares acquired on July 6, 2011, under the Rush Enterprises, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option was previously reported as covering 10,000 shares at an exercise price of $12.60 per share but was adjusted as a result of the 3-for-2 stock split of Common Stock of Rush Enterprises, Inc. on October 10, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Option vested in increments of 1/3 on each anniversary of the grant date beginning on the third anniversary of the grant date. Grant date is 10 years prior to expiration date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $20.10 to $20.133, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide Rush Enterprises, Inc., any security holder of Rush Enterprises, Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in this footnote (5).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven L. Keller, Attorney in Fact for James E. Thor</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-10-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
