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NASCAR Trucks: Joe Ruttman charges from 2 Laps Down to Finish 4th at Home Track

12 July 1999

Nashville, Tennessee--Joe Ruttman and the Dana team showed their hometown fans just what they were made of by racing from two laps down on lap five, to finish on the lead lap in fourth place by races end. The fourth place finish is a season best for the Dana team. It was also Ruttman's first top five finish of the year.

"You're only as good as the horse you're riding," said Ruttman. "I was determined not to be embarrassed here on my home track. I bought a lot of ticket for my family and friends, so I had to run good."

When the Dana team unloaded their equipment for the race at their home track they were hoping to shake the little black cloud that had been hovering over the team since the season started. It has been a tough year up to this point with little things keeping the team from turning in the type of finishes that would put them in position to win races. But a run like the one they had Saturday night may be the turning point the team needs to get things going in the right direction.

"We had a flat tire early and that put us two laps down," said Ruttman. "This Bobby Hamilton racing crew just never gave up. We made one of the laps back, but I was just not sure whether we would be able to get the second lap back or not. We had to run a little longer on some old tires than we really wanted to, but when someone in front of us messed up a little, we were there to capitalize. When we put fresh tires on, at the end of the race, the Dana Dodge was a rocket. I think I went from 15th to 4th in 30 laps. This team gave 100 percent tonight."

The fourth place finish moved Ruttman up two positions to 24th in the driver point standings, even though he did not compete in six of the first 14 races held to date. The finish also moved the Bobby Hamilton Dana Racing team into the 15th position in the owners standings.

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