-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 DqQIrjBRf9m5wcG2i5Hg6L+rxC5NXCIonbY5V45R1C21J5wMDjDDCAF2jwUWog68
 8eJKYE8XIIvJSNoUKy4h4Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-08-019738.txt : 20081120
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-08-019738.hdr.sgml : 20081120
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081120141846
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-08-019738
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081119
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081120
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081120

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NAEGELIN MARTIN A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001211556

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-20797
		FILM NUMBER:		081203463

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RUSH ENTERPRISES INC
		STREET 2:		555 IH 35 SOUTH
		CITY:			NEW BRAUNFELS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78130

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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211556</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NAEGELIN MARTIN A</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>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.8528</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects aggregate reporting of multiple open market transactions. The Reporting Person will provide, upon request by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the Issuer, or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price. The price reported is the weighted average sales price of share sales occurring at prices ranging from $5.8300 to $5.8799 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven L. Keller, Attorney-in-Fact for Martin A. Naegelin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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