NASCAR Trucks: Joe Ruttman has high hopes heading to Kentucky
15 June 2000
Posted By Terry CallahanMotorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
High Hopes: Joe Ruttman and the Dana team enter this week's race at Kentucky Speedway with high hopes that they can bounce back from misfortune in three of the last four weeks.
"We just can't have any more bad luck," said Ruttman. "We've got to get some momentum going or we'll be in a dog fight to stay in the top ten in points. We're a good team but every time we get a good run going something or someone takes us out. It's just a little frustrating for the guys on the team. But they keep building great trucks and we'll keep trying to win. We'll never give up."
Ruttman enters the Kroger 225 with four poles, one win, four top fives, and five top 10 finishes this season. But he and the team sure would like to add to those totals by the end of the weekend.
"We need to start putting up some more numbers like the first of the year," said Ruttman. "I know we'll be out for a top five finish this week."
Miles Lead: Joe Ruttman sits fourth in miles lead so far this season at 157.774 miles. If he can lead 13.96 miles or 10 laps in the Kroger 225, he will surpass the most miles he has ever led (171.734 miles) in a single season in the Truck Series. Coming into the 2000 season, Ruttman had led 429.285 miles in his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career.
Need a Good Finish: After last week's crash at Texas Motor Speedway, Joe Ruttman enters the Kroger 225 needing a solid finish to move back up into the top five in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings. Ruttman and the Dana team are now tied for eight place in the points with Randy Tolsma, 261 points out of the lead.
Going for $ 200,000: Joe Ruttman enters this weekend looking to become the fifth man to top the $ 200,000 mark in earnings for the year. Ruttman needs only $ 16,822 to surpass the mark.
Ruttman's Quotes for Kentucky Speedway
"This place is great. I think everyone who comes here will see that the track officials did a lot of research before they built the facility. It looks to be very fan friendly and it will definitely be racer and team friendly."
"I was up here last week for a media tour and I don't remember the last place the Truck Series went too that there was this much excitement about NASCAR coming to town. Maybe Daytona earlier this year, but the people and the track are really rolling out the red carpet for us."
"It would be pretty cool to win the first race at the track. I was able to win the first race at Walt Disney World back in 1997 and that was a big win. I'm sure this would be as big if not bigger for me and the team."
Text provided by David Pepper
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