Joe Ruttman
Raymond Joseph Ruttman is an American former stock car racing driver who competed in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series, Nationwide Series, and Camping World Truck Series. With thirteen career wins in the Truck Series, he is currently tied for thirteenth on the all-time wins list with Mike Bliss. He is the younger brother of Troy Ruttman.
USAC Stock Cars
Ruttman was the United States Automobile Club's 1978 USAC Stock Car Rookie of the Year, and the 1980 USAC Series champion.NASCAR
Ruttman made his NASCAR Grand National Series debut in 1963 at Riverside International Raceway, finishing tenth at the Winston Western 500. He drove in three more Series races between 1964 and 1980, while racing local tracks in between. Ruttman caught a big break in 1981 when J.D. Stacy, who had just bought Rod Osterlund's team, hired him to take over for Dale Earnhardt, who left the team mid-season to join Richard Childress Racing. Ruttman went on to run a full Series schedule from 1982 through 1984, 1986, and 1991. His best season was in 1983, when he finished twelfth in points. During his twenty years in the Sprint Cup Series he had sixty top-ten finishes and nineteen top-fives. He came very close to winning a race at Richmond in 1982, but a late power-steering failure sent his car into the wall and gave Dave Marcis the victory. He also picked up a runner-up finish at the same track, finishing five seconds behind Kyle Petty in 1986, although, had Ruttman not been collected in a final-lap accident, he would have actually won.In 1995, Ruttman competed in the inaugural NASCAR SuperTrucks Series, where he would finally reach his potential. He would dominate the middle of the season, winning two races that year on his way to finishing second in the championship. His success as a full-time driver in the Truck Series continued as he went on to win eleven more races between 1996 and 2007. He won his last race at age 56, making him the oldest race winner in any NASCAR division.
At Rockingham in 2004, Ruttman made his first Cup Series start since 1995, driving a one-off race for Phoenix Racing. However, it was a controversial "start-and-park" run. Ruttman contributed to an ongoing controversy by not showing up with a pit crew, and only coming to collect a small share of the prize money. Ruttman was ordered off the track by NASCAR after one lap and team owner James Finch was admonished by officials. At the time, there was a controversy over unqualified "field-fillers" being in the race and led to changes in the NASCAR rulebook.
Personal life
Born in Upland, California, Ruttman is a resident of North Port, Florida. He is the younger brother of Indianapolis 500 winner Troy Ruttman.His father, Ralph "Butch" Ruttman, was an award-winning mechanic on top Indy teams.