Joe Ruttman
No. 4 Open Joist Dodge Ram Race  Recap
The Sam’s Town 400
Texas Motor Speedway

Charles Krall/TruckSeries.com Photo

After two promising practice  sessions and a solid starting spot in the Friday night event, Joe Ruttman and  the Open Joist Dodge Racing Team were ready for the start of the Sam’s Town 400  at Texas Motor Speedway.  But  things don’t always go according to plan.  Ruttman, while battling a loose race truck, was making his way through the field  when he tangled with fellow competitor Clay Rogers sending the No. 4 Open Joist  Dodge careening into the inside wall. The truck sustained major damage and the  team was forced to end the night early. The team finished in 27th  position.

The No. 4  Open Joist Dodge Texas Race  Recap

The Open  Joist Racing Team showed promise during both practice sessions on Thursday.  Ruttman finished sixth in the first session and followed that up with third in  the final session.

Ruttman  battled tight race truck in qualifying and scored a 28th starting  position for Friday night’s event.

When the  race started, the first caution waved on lap nine for an accident on the  backstretch. Crew Chief Marcus Richmond made the call for Ruttman to come  down pit road for fuel and a wedge adjustment under the caution. Ruttman  restarted in the 27th position.

Despite  being free he made his way toward the front runners pretty quickly. By lap 30  he was running in the 16th position.

Over the  next 20 laps Ruttman continued to battle a loose race truck, but comfortably  held his own in the top 20. “You’re catching them lap by lap,” coached spotter  Kip McCord.

By lap 70  Ruttman was running in the 15th position when disaster struck.  Coming off of turn two Ruttman and Clay Rogers tangled sending the No. 4 Open  Joist Dodge spinning toward the inside wall.

The truck  suffered major front end damage and the team was forced to call it a night.  Ruttman finished 93 laps down to the leader in the 27th position.

Todd Bodine won the Sam’s Town 400 before an  estimated crowd of 52,000. Mike Skinner, Rick Crawford, Ron Hornaday Jr. and  David Starr rounded out the top five finishers. The next event for the NCTS will  be at Michigan International Speedway on June 16, 2007.