Ruppel Leads Sportsman Rookie Standings

July 25, 2005
Chetek, WI

Ruppel takes the lead in the Pit Bull Tires CORR Sportsman Rookie of the Year Standings


Eric Ruppel and his #837 Amsoil, Phil’s Inc., BFGoodrich Tire, Swant Graber Ford F-150 entered his inaugural season in the Lucas Oil CORR Sportsman series with the hopes finishing every round of racing. So far, Eric has finished 7 seven of the eight rounds completed this year.

Previously Eric competed in the Johnsonville Formula 4x4 series, a support race series that is run at several CORR events. This past winter, Eric purchased the Stock Truck from now retired driver Randy Rundhaug. After a short test session in early May, Eric had little time to adjust to the cornering characteristics of a two wheel drive truck.

With eight of the twelve rounds of racing complete, Eric Ruppel has a 46-point lead in the Pit Bull Tires CORR Sportsman Rookie of the Year standings. In eight rounds the team has three Top 5 finishes and only one scratch. Currently the team is in seventh place overall in the Stock Truck division.

“After Antigo, someone asked me, “where do you so stand in the Rookie race?”  I really didn’t know.  We were finishing races, but the engine kept overheating. So my main concern was correcting the engine problem. Finally I gave CORR a call, and found out we were leading the Rookie standings. My biggest surprise racing in CORR is the help and advice other drivers have given the team. Even a few of the Pro drivers have been there to help…The last four rounds are at tracks I’m familiar with (Bark River and Crandon), so I’m confident we can have a good finish to the season.” – Eric Ruppel.

The last two stops of the Lucas Oil CORR Sportsman series includes two rounds on August 13 & 14 at the Boss Snowplow/Island Casino Off-Road Challenge in Bark River, Michigan and the final two rounds on September 3 & 4 at the Borg Warner Off-Road Championships in Crandon, Wisconsin.

The entire CORR Sportsman series will air later in the year on SPEED Channel.