NASCAR Trucks: Nazareth owes one to Ruttman

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

August 16, 2001

Last Year: If one racetrack owes Joe Ruttman and Bobby Hamilton Racing it is Nazareth Speedway. Last year, the Dana Team won the pole in convincing fashion and led the most laps. Unfortunately, the victory was taken away from them in the final laps due to a rash of caution flags that kept the No. 18 truck mired in traffic after a late race pit stop.

“I've never had a more dominate truck than here last year, and not won,” said Ruttman. “It was just hard to take. Everything was working in our favor until the end of the race. We had to pit for fuel, and got back in traffic, and then there was caution lap after caution lap. That is what beat us. We just ran out of time.” This year, Ruttman enters the event one point behind in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standing. So every move on and off the track counts. “I'm not to worried,” said Ruttman. “We've had a good truck most everywhere we've gone and I expect to be up front again this week.”

Just One Pole Away: After last week's qualifying run, Ruttman is one pole behind Jack Sprague for the all-time lead in pole positions in the Truck Series. Sprague leads with 18 for his career and five for the 2001 season. Ruttman and the No. 18 Team currently have four pole positions this season, and the best average starting position in the series at 3.23. Only twice has Ruttman qualified outside the top five, sixth at Kansas and seventh at Nashville.

Earnings At Nazareth: If Ruttman can earn over $11,625 in the Chevy Silverado 200 event at Nazareth Speedway he will surpass the $100,000 mark in career earning at the Speedway.

This Week's Truck: The Dana Team will be using the open test day to determine the truck that will be raced at Nazareth Speedway. Both “Goober,” and “Rudolph” are being taken to the racetrack for the test. Goober has raced the last three events; while Rudolph was last raced at Texas Motor Speedway in June were Ruttman finished fourth.

Top 10's: Entering the Nazareth Speedway event, Ruttman and the Bobby Hamilton Racing Dana Team have recorded the most top 10 finishes of any team in the NASCAR Truck Series with 15. This is the main reason for the Dana Team having the best average finish, 6.35, of any team this season.

Track Record: Last year, Ruttman and the No. 18 Dana Dodge won the pole with a new track record. Ruttman turned in a lap of 130.572 MPH or 27.571 seconds.

Text provided by David Pepper

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