---

NASCAR Trucks: Long way from last year for Ruttman

25 February 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

Long Way From Last Year: It is a long way from 1999 for Joe Ruttman. Last year he was at Homestead trying to keep his consecutive start streak alive by running a Jim Smith owned truck for three laps and then parking it. This year he comes to Homestead looking for the pole, the most laps led, and on yea his ninth win and the team's first.

"When I look back at where I was at this time last year I can't help but be thankful," said Ruttman. "This time last year I was just trying to hang on in this sport. This year I'm back and looking to win again."

It has been evident since Ruttman joined the Lebanon, Tennessee based Dana team, that they have been getting better and better each week. Now just eight months later the team and the driver look to be contenders by coming out of the box with strong trucks that are capable of winning poles, races, and possibly with a lot of luck a championship.

Playing the Numbers: If the Dana Team was going to play the numbers game. This would be a good week to bet on them to win, because everything is coming up 18.

When Joe Ruttman takes the green flag for the start of Saturday's race it will mark his 18th start in a Bobby Hamilton Racing truck, his 118th career start in the series, and he will be driving the familiar blue and white No. 18 truck.

Testing: The Dana Team is looking to duplicate the speed they had here at Homestead during the January test. During that test the team tried multiple changes with each lap a little faster than the previous. Both the team and the driver are very confident that they can duplicate last week's feat of winning the pole. They just hope the race turns out a little different.

Looking for Number 80: If Joe Ruttman can bring home a top 10 finish in the Florida Dodge Dealers 400K on Saturday it will be his 80th top 10 finish in series history.

President: During Daytona Speedweeks, Rick Garrels, Semi truck driver for the No. 18 Bobby Hamilton Dana Racing team was elected, by his fellow semi truck drivers, as President of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Drivers Association. The association is for members of the NASCAR Truck Series only. Garrels, has been a member for three years.

Ruttman's Quotes for Homestead Miami Speedway

"We tested great down here is January. But sometimes it's hard to duplicate the times and speeds you run in testing on race weekend. However we're pretty sure we'll be very good here."

"I'm disappointed about the finish last week but the team and myself know we had something for everyone else if we had not been taken out in that crash. It just put us in a little hole. Now the most important thing is not to let that hole get any deeper. In short we have to get a top 10 finish here this week."

"It would be nice to win a race sponsored by Dodge so we can keep it in the family so to speak. I know they would be very happy about that."

Text provided by David Pepper

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.