Joe Ruttman

Raymond Joseph Ruttman (born October 28, 1944) 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 (as of October 13, 2021). 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 (now known as the NASCAR Cup 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 (now known as the Craftsman Truck 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 the age of 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.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series NASCAR Grand National Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 Pts Ref 1963 Carl Dane 98 Mercury BIR GGS THS RSD10 DAY DAY DAY PIF AWS HBO ATL HCY BRI AUG RCH GPS SBO BGS MAR NWS CLB THS DAR ODS RCH CLT BIR ATL DAY MBS SVH DTS BGS ASH OBS BRR BRI GPS NSV CLB AWS PIF BGS ONA DAR HCY RCH MAR DTS NWS THS CLT SBO HBO RSD 56th 1584 1964 Troy Ruttman 1W Mercury CON AUG JAC SAV RSD34 DAY DAY DAY RCH BRI GPS BGS ATL ASW HBO PIF CLB NWS MAR SAV DAR LGY HCY SBO CLT GPS ASH ATL CON NSV CHT BIR VAL PIF DAY ODS OBS BRR ISP GLN LIN BRI NSV MBS ASW DTS ONA CLB BGS STR DAR HCY RCH ODS HBO MAR SAV NWS CLT HAR AUG JAC 127th 100

Nextel Cup Series NASCAR Nextel Cup Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Pts Ref 1977 Robert Switzer 25 Ford RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT13 85th 124 1980 Jim Stacy Racing 5 Olds RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR ATL ONT40 NA 0 1981 6 Buick RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL10 BRI NWS DAR MAR TAL29 NSV DOV CLT7 TWS9 RSD MCH DAY29 NSV POC TAL22 28th 1851 2 Pontiac MCH6 BRI21 DAR15 RCH30 DOV6 NWS26 CAR5 Buick MAR17 CLT19 ATL25 RSD2 1982 DAY3 RCH15 BRI18 ATL29 CAR24 DAR 16th 3021 RahMoc Enterprises 75 Buick NWS12 MAR14 NSV4 CLT41 POC30 MCH13 DAY40 NSV12 POC7 TAL11 MCH38 BRI24 DAR13 RCH31 DOV18 NWS6 CLT4 MAR5 CAR18 ATL5 Pontiac TAL22 DOV18 RSD26 Ranier-Lundy Racing 28 Pontiac RSD40 1983 Benfield Racing 98 Chevy DAY4* TAL11 CLT14 DAY37 TAL15 MCH24 CLT13 12th 3342 Buick RCH7* CAR29 ATL4 DAR20 NWS7 MAR4 NSV7 DOV3 RSD34 MCH33 POC9 MAR7 NWS14 Pontiac BRI23 POC10 NSV22 BRI18 DAR38 RCH27 DOV20 CAR30 ATL30 RSD41 1984 Chevy DAY28 RCH10 CAR17 ATL28 BRI10 NWS30 DAR19 MAR6 TAL21 CLT41 RSD7 POC11 MCH8 DAY10 NSV8 POC14 TAL37 MCH20 BRI29 DAR13 RCH30 DOV33 MAR29 18th 2945 Buick NSV15 Pontiac DOV14 Barkdoll Racing 38 Chevy CLT40 NWS Morgan-McClure Motorsports 4 Chevy CAR34 ATL35 RSD10 1985 DAY17 RCH CAR6 ATL26 BRI29 DAR11 NWS MAR TAL30 DOV CLT7 RSD POC35 MCH DAY35 POC TAL33 MCH BRI13 DAR9 RCH DOV33 MAR NWS CLT5 CAR40 ATL32 RSD 30th 1410 1986 King Racing 26 Buick DAY28 RCH2 CAR33 ATL42 BRI19 DAR21 NWS5 MAR2 TAL17 DOV11 CLT32 RSD42 POC7 MCH9 DAY7 POC38 TAL8 GLN33 MCH30 BRI17 DAR38 RCH6 DOV6 MAR5 NWS6 CLT25 CAR9 ATL9 RSD5 15th 3295 1987 Ball Motorsports 99 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR NWS BRI MAR TAL36 CLT DOV POC RSD MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT NA 0 RahMoc Enterprises 75 Pontiac CAR10 RSD7 ATL11 1988 Bob Clark Motorsports 31 Olds DAY RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT20 DOV30 RSD29 POC17 MCH16 DAY11 POC27 TAL42 GLN9 MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR 39th 803 Barkdoll Racing 73 Chevy CLT35 NWS Winkle Motorsports 97 Buick CAR38 Barkdoll Racing 73 Ford PHO41 ATL 1989 CalCar Motorsports 45 Pontiac DAY13 CAR ATL RCH DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV 43rd 469 Baker-Schiff Racing 88 Olds SON6 POC MCH DAY Douglas Smith Racing 62 Olds POC34 DAR30 RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR27 Speed Racing 83 Olds TAL31 GLN MCH21 BRI31 Reno Enterprises 40 Chevy PHO20 ATL 1990 CalCar Motorsports 32 Pontiac DAY26 RCH CAR ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 81st 85 1991 RahMoc Enterprises 75 Olds DAY3 RCH29 CAR24 ATL27 DAR26 BRI13 NWS24 MAR16 TAL29 CLT21 DOV12 SON31 POC22 MCH19 DAY31 POC10 TAL10 GLN14 BRI17 RCH28 DOV13 MAR31 CLT16 CAR27 PHO22 20th 2938 Chevy MCH30 DAR9 NWS29 ATL20 1992 Moroso Racing 20 Olds DAY CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL CLT35 DOV SON POC MCH DAY POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 84th 58 1993 Ford DAY38 CAR RCH ATL38 DAR BRI19 NWS MAR TAL5 SON CLT35 DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 43rd 417 1994 Melling Racing 9 Ford DAY18 CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH 54th 203 Hover Motorsports 80 Ford DAYDNQ NHA POC TALDNQ RCHDNQ DOV MAR NWS CLT23 CAR PHO ATLDNQ Roulo Brothers Racing 39 Chevy INDDNQ GLN MCH BRI DAR 1995 Hover Motorsports 80 Ford DAY19 CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL INDDNQ GLN MCH 56th 106 Sadler Brothers Racing 95 Ford BRIDNQ DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL 1996 Hover Motorsports 80 Ford DAYDNQ CAR RCH ATL DAR BRI NWS MAR TAL SON CLT DOV POC MCH DAY NHA POC TAL IND GLN MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR PHO ATL NA - 2004 Phoenix Racing 09 Dodge DAY CAR43 LVS ATL43 DAR43 BRI42 TEX MAR43 TAL CAL43 RCH CLT DOV POC MCH SON DAY CHI NHA POC IND GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH NHA DOV41 TAL KAN CLT MAR ATL PHO DAR HOM 60th 247

Daytona 500 Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish 1982 Jim Stacy Racing Buick 8 3 1983 Benfield Racing Chevrolet 11 4 1984 31 28 1985 Morgan-McClure Motorsports Chevrolet 32 17 1986 King Racing Buick 40 28 1989 CalCar Motorsports Pontiac 17 13 1990 27 26 1991 RahMoc Enterprises Oldsmobile 14 3 1993 Moroso Racing Ford 36 38 1994 Melling Racing Ford 34 18 1995 Hover Motorsports Ford 27 19 1996 DNQ

Nationwide Series NASCAR Nationwide Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 Pts Ref 1982 Butch Mock Motorsports 75 Pontiac DAY RCH BRI MAR DAR HCY SBO CRW RCH LGY DOV1 HCY CLT32 ASH HCY SBO CAR CRW SBO HCY LGY IRP BRI HCY RCH MAR CLTDNQ HCY MAR 88th 247 1983 Whitaker Racing 82 Pontiac DAY8 RCH CAR HCY MAR NWS SBO GPS LGY DOV BRI 71st 288 98 CLT7 SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU CRW ROU SBO HCY LGY IRP GPS BRI HCY DAR RCH NWS SBO MAR ROU CLT HCY MAR 1984 Olds DAY RCH CAR HCY MAR DAR ROU NSV LGY MLW DOV CLT SBO HCY ROU SBO ROU HCY IRP LGY SBO BRI DAR RCH NWS CLT39 HCY CAR MAR 98th 46 1985 7 DAY40 CAR2 HCY BRI20 MAR DAR34 SBO LGY DOV7 CLT27 SBO HCY ROU IRP SBO LGY HCY MLW DAR26 RCH NWS ROU CLT HCY CAR MAR 41st 520 Pontiac BRI25 1993 Moroso Racing 20 Chevy DAY38 CAR RCH DAR BRI33 HCY ROU MAR NZH CLT13 DOV MYB GLN MLW TAL IRP MCH NHA BRI DAR RCH DOV ROU CLT MAR CAR HCY ATL 63rd 237 1996 Phoenix Racing 4 Chevy DAY CAR RCH ATL NSV DAR BRI HCY NZH CLT DOV SBO MYB GLN MLWQL† NHA TAL IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV CLT CAR HOM NA - 2001 Phoenix Racing 1 Chevy DAY CAR LVS ATL DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL CAL RCH NHA NZH CLT DOV KEN33 MLW38 GLN CHI GTY PPR21 IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM PHO CAR HOM 78th 213 2002 51 Pontiac DAY CAR LVS DAR BRI TEX NSH TAL36 CAL RCH NHA NZH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI GTY PPR IRP MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM ATL CAR PHO HOM NA 0 2005 Sadler Brothers Racing 95 Dodge DAY CAL MXC LVS ATL NSH BRI TEX PHO TAL24 DAR RCH CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW DAY CHI NHA PPR GTY IRP GLN MCH BRI CAL RCH DOV KAN CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM 114th 91 2009 E.O.C. Motorsports 71 Chevy DAY CAL LVS BRIWth TEX NSH PHO TAL RCH DAR CLT DOV NSH KEN MLW NHA DAY CHI GTYDNQ IRPDNQ IOW GLN MCH BRI CGV ATL RCH DOV KAN CAL CLT MEM TEX PHO HOM NA - † - Qualified for Jeff Purvis

Craftsman Truck Series NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Pts Ref 1995 Irvan-Simo Racing 84 Ford PHO8 TUS4 SGS13 MMR8 POR2 EVG2 I704 LVL2 BRI1 MLW6 CNS6 HPT2 IRP6 FLM7 RCH4 MAR1NWS6 SON12 MMR5 PHO8 2nd 3098 1996 Roush Racing 80 Ford HOM19 PHO7 POR9 EVG8 TUS15 CNS6 HPT23 BRI6 NZH7 MLW17 LVL5 I7020 IRP22 FLM27 GLN6 NSV13 RCH4 NHA8 MAR6 NWS5 SON4 MMR3 PHO3 LVS3 4th 3275 1997 WDW1 TUS28 HOM26 PHO2 POR13 EVG4 I706 NHA9 TEX9 BRI5 NZH2 MLW9 LVL2 CNS12 HPT1 IRP4 FLM2 NSV19 GLN4 RCH12 MAR12 SON1 MMR19 CAL29 PHO1 LVS1 3rd 3736 1998 50 WDW2 3rd 3874 99 HOM22 PHO7 POR9 EVG12 I702 GLN1 TEX3 BRI3 MLW7 NZH5 CAL11 PPR3 IRP3 NHA3 FLM4 NSV24 HPT9 LVL27 RCH4 MEM4 GTY18 MAR21 SON4 MMR13 PHO4 LVS7 1999 Ultra Motorsports 12 Ford HOM33 21st 2275 SealMaster Racing 8 Chevy PHO34 EVG MMR Wauters Motorsports 15 Ford MAR13 MEM PPR I70 BRI Bobby Hamilton Racing 18 Dodge TEX11 PIR10 GLN25 MLW15 NSV4 NZH22 MCH5 NHA25 IRP10 GTY7 HPT7 RCH29 LVS23 LVL10 TEX7 CAL2 2000 DAY19 HOM4 PHO1* MMR16 MAR6 PIR12 GTY5 MEM19 PPR22 EVG3 TEX26 KEN25 GLN15 MLW24 NHA12 NZH2* MCH14 IRP1* NSV4 CIC1 RCH4 DOV17 TEX11 CAL3 6th 3278 2001 DAY1* HOM9 MMR6 MAR4 GTY12 DAR5 PPR1 DOV8 TEX4 MEM3 MLW6 KAN24 KEN2 NHA8 IRP3 NSH4 CIC8 NZH9 RCH9 SBO5 TEX9 LVS8 PHO12 CAL16 3rd 3570 2002 RDS Motorsports 79 Dodge DAY4 40th 465 Rosenblum Racing 28 Chevy DAR35 MAR GTY PPR DOV TEX MEM MLW KAN KEN NHA MCH IRP Petty Enterprises 45 Dodge NSH17 RCH Bobby Hamilton Racing 4 Dodge TEX11 SBO LVS CAL PHO HOM 2007 Bobby Hamilton Racing 18 Dodge DAY CAL ATL MAR KAN25 CLT MFD DOV 77th 170 4 TEX27 MCH MLW MEM KEN IRP 04 NSH33 BRI GTY35 NHA LVS TAL Jim Blankenbaker 53 Dodge MARDNQ ATL TEX PHO HOM

ARCA Re/Max Series (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.) ARCA Re/Max Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Pts Ref 1967 23 Ford DSP DAY DAY DAY AUS PAS CCS HOU FMS NKS TOL NSV ACS LCF SLM ELD BFS MLL BAR AND8 CMS BFS SSP FMS KMS CCF SLM ACS TOL DSP CMS KMS NA 0 1972 33 SLM DAY FMS WIN I70 SLM QCS LCF ELD IRP NBS WIN TOL SHA SLM FMS TOL2 CCF FRS QCS NBS NA 0 1980 Speedway Engineering 70 Pontiac DAY NWS FRS FRS MCH1* TAL IMS FRS MCH NA 0 1981 Joe Ruttman 5 Pontiac DAY2 DSP FRS FRS BFS 11th 395 59 Olds TAL2 FRS COR 1982 Jim Stacy Racing 9 Olds NSV DAY1* TAL FRS CMS WIN NSV TAT TAL FRS BFS MIL SND NA 0 1994 Roulo Brothers Racing 39 Chevy DAY TAL FIF LVL KIL TOL FRS MCH DMS POC POC KIL FRS INF I70 ISF DSF21 TOL SLM WIN ATL 139th - 1995 DAY4 ATL TAL FIF KIL FRS MCH5 I80 MCS FRS POC29 POC KIL26 FRS1* SBS LVL ISF DSF30 SLM WIN ATL 32nd 1050 1999 Roulo Brothers Racing 39 Chevy DAY39 ATL SLM AND CLT MCH POC TOL SBS BLN POC KIL FRS FLM ISF WIN DSF SLM CLT TAL ATL 143rd 35 2003 Roulo Brothers Racing 39 Ford DAY ATL NSH SLM TOL KEN CLT BLN KAN MCH LER POC POC NSH ISF WIN DSF CHI19 SLM TAL CLT SBO 144th 135