NASCAR Trucks: Joe Ruttman Dana Racing Notes, Gateway Preview

2 May 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Last to Seventh: Last year in the Ram Tough 200, Joe Ruttman qualified 16th but had to start the event from last place after an unapproved engine change after final practice. The team felt the engine was not performing, so they changed it. According to the NASCAR Truck Series rules, a team can only change an engine after qualifying if it is damaged and if the NASCAR inspector approves the change.

"We had a tough race here last year," said Ruttman. "We had a little problem with our engine but the rules said if we changed it, we'd have to start in the back. Thank goodness for us we were able to get back to the front and get a solid finish out of the deal." This year though, I hope we'll start up front and finish there."

Fortunately for Ruttman, he has the second best average starting percentage (4.3) in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2000, just behind Mike Wallace.

Number 50: If Joe Ruttman can record a top five finish in Sunday's Ram Tough 200, it would be his 50th such finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The only other drivers to accomplish this feat are Jack Sprague and Ron Hornaday.

Miles Completed: When Joe Ruttman completes 132 laps of the scheduled 160 laps in the Ram Tough 200 at Gateway International Raceway this weekend, he will move into second all-time in miles completed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Ruttman who has been competing in the series since the first season, will have amassed 17,392.1 miles in his six year Truck Series career.

Text provided By Dana Racing

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