NASCAR Trucks: Ruttman looks forward to second visit to Kentucky
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 12, 2001
Kentucky Speedway has not been very kind to Joe Ruttman and the Dana Racing Team. Last year, the team was as high as second during an early rain delay, but just after the race got restarted, the unthinkable happened. Ruttman crashed and ended the team's hope of a good finish.
"I remember last year," said Ruttman. "We were just a little off, and I was trying to petal the truck a bit faster than she wanted to go. The truck jumped sideways and away we went, right into the wall. I learned one thing from that problem. I have a great team, and I should not try and make the truck do more than it can. All I have to do is get to pit road and these guys on the Dana Team will stop at nothing to make it right."
Ruttman enters the weekend second in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings, after an engine problem sidelined the team for the first time all year, but confidence is high for the second half of the season.
"We're in a great points battle at the half way point," said Ruttman. "But there is still a lot of racing left to go. There are five of us within 100 points of each other so the pressure's on. But I've been in this spot before and I think if you worry about it, then your doomed to fail."
Play Ball: On Thursday, July 12, 2001, Ruttman and several other drivers and members of ESPN will be playing in a charity softball game at the campus of Northern Kentucky University. Ruttman will serve as the driver's team coach during the event.
Kentucky BGN Race: Last month, Ruttman went to Kentucky Speedway where he raced the Phoenix Racing Yellow Chevrolet for long-time friend, Marc Reno and team owner, James Finch. Ruttman started 29th in the event, but unfortunately crashed out finishing in the 33rd position.
This Week's Truck: The Dana Racing Team will be going back to one of its best trucks for the Kentucky Speedway event this week. Goober will be back to battle at the one and a half mile speedway. The last time "Goober" raced was at Memphis where it started in the second position and finished in third place. Over all, the team has raced Goober 24 times. It has four poles, three wins, nine top five finishes, and 13 top ten finishes. Martinsville 2001 was the most recent pole won, and Chicago 2000 was the most recent win.
Ruttman's Quote
"We had our first bad finish of the season last week, but it's not the end of the world. This team can come back strong and get it done. We just have to not let last week affect how we approach this week's race."
Text provided by David Pepper
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