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NASCAR Trucks: Joe Ruttman ready for return to site of a previous win

22 June 2000

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

High Hopes: Joe Ruttman, driver of the Bobby Hamilton Dana Racing Dodge, arrives in Watkins Glen this weekend with the hope of duplicating his performance of two years ago, when he came home victorious in the Bully Hill Vineyard 150, after NASCAR penalized Ron Hornaday for jumping a restart. "That was a bad deal for Hornaday two years ago," said Ruttman. "But this Dana team sure could deal with some good luck like that again. We're coming off two of the worst races (26th at Texas and 25th at Kentucky) the team and I have ever had together. We desperately need a top finish to get back any hope of a strong finish in the points. Maybe a change to turning right for a week will change our luck and our finish."

Ruttman may be right about the change to racing clockwise this weekend. If history on a road course has any influence, then the Dana team may be in for a solid run.

Ruttman has won on every road course the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has competed on except Portland International Raceway. He has tasted victory at Watkins Glen International in 1998, Sears Point Raceway in 1997, and Heartland Park Topeka in 1997. He is also in a tie with Jack Sprague with 15 career starts on road courses.

"I think we'll be in good shape for the Glen," said Ruttman. "We are a solid team and we come to the track ready every week. Unfortunately we don't get the finishes we would like sometimes, but we never give up and start pointing fingers like some teams. We won in Phoenix as a team, and we lose as a team."

Going for $ 200,000: Joe Ruttman enters this weekend looking to become the sixth man to top the $ 200,000 mark in earnings for the year. Ruttman needs only $ 4,232 to surpass the mark.

Need a Good Finish: After crashes in the last two races, Joe Ruttman enters the Bully Hill Vineyards 150 needing a solid finish to move back up into the top 10 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points standings. Ruttman and the Dana team are now 12th in the Craftsman Truck Series points standings, 16 points out of 10th place.

Ruttman's Quotes for Watkins Glen International Raceway

"I think road racing is more fun for the driver. It's a deal where every corner is a little different. That means if a guy gets you in one corner, you know you may be able to pass him in the next. It just makes for a lot of fun to drive."

"Everybody asks me if I'm a road racing specialist. I'm not, but the first thing I ever drove was a go-kart on a road course so I think that's were I get my knowledge of the courses. Even though that has been a few years ago. "

"We've been talking about what we need to do to beat Ron Fellow on the road course because he seems to be one of the best when we go to this track. He is always up front, so if we can get our truck to handle like his, I think we'll be real good."

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.