2002 Media Release

2002 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship Point Standings

Ruttman - Personal Info:
Birthdate - October 28, 1944
Wife - Peggy
Children - Shawn, Carrie Jo, Nicki, Kyle
Residence - Franklin, Tennessee

Ruttman -Fast Facts...
NASCAR Winston Cup Series
(218 starts, 19 top fives, 60 top ten finishes)
Busch Grand National Series (20 starts, one win, one top five, two top ten finishes)

2002 Truck Series Season
Starts - 3
Poles - 0
Wins - 0
Top fives - 1
Top tens - 1
Earnings - $ 37,905
Laps Led - 1 of 2802
Races Led - 1 of 16
DNF's - 1

Truck Series Career Statistics
Starts - 167
Poles - 17
Wins - 13
Top fives - 68
Top tens - 111
Earnings - $ 3,124,012

Truck Series Performance Record: Texas Motor Speedway
Date Start/Finish Laps Status Winnings
6-6-97 11 9 167 of 167 Running $ 11,400
6-5-98 31 3 167 of 167 Running 32,500
6-11-99 18 11 178 of 179 Running 10,775
10-15-99 12 7 125 of 125 Running 9,675
6-9-00 13 26 142 of 167 Running 10,050
10-13-00 25 11 167 of 167 Running 10,175
6-8-01 2 4 167 of 167 Running 20,650
10-5-01 8 9 146 of 146 Running 10,145
Totals 1259 of 1285 (97.9%) $ 114,370

Topics of Interest

Joe Ruttman Gets One Race Deal: Veteran NASCAR driver, Joe Ruttman, will be
back in a Bobby Hamilton Racing prepared truck for one race at Texas Motor Speedway this week. Ruttman will pilot the No. 4 Dodge and will be looking to recapture the form that the two parties had together between June of 1999 and November of 2001.

"Bobby called me on Monday and asked if I was available, and I asked him if I needed to come by right now," said Ruttman. "This is just a one race deal, but it gives me a chance to get in a first class truck and show people I can still get the job done. I just really appreciate Bobby (Hamilton) giving me a call. I hope I can help them out this week with a solid finish."

The No. 4 truck has had several drivers in it over the last few weeks, as plans are being laid out for next year.

"We have been trying to get the No. 4 team back in form over the last few weeks, and we kind of got in a bind this week," said Hamilton. "We had planned to field another driver in the truck, but that will not happen until next week at South Boston. So we sat down on Monday and decided to put Ruttman in the truck for this week. We need to get a good run so the truck stays up in the points, and we know what to expect from Ruttman. He can still get the job done out there. I've never had a doubt about his ability. I just hope he and the team can get a solid finish for us."

Ruttman joined the team in much the same way back in June of 1999 when he was called to race at Texas for the team in a one race deal. That relationship resulted in 64 starts, five wins, 12 poles, 23 top five finishes, and 40 top ten finishes in two and a half years.

"I really feel good about this deal," said Ruttman. "I know a few of the guys over on the No. 4 team, including the crew chief, so I think we should be ok this week."

Ruttman does have a little experience with crew chief, Randy Seals. The two of them tested together in the middle of last season when Seals was the crew chief for Brad Baker, who just happens to be Ruttman's nephew.

Points Battle: The No. 4 team is locked in a tight points battle. With six races remaining in the schedule, they sit 15th in the points standings, just 28 points out of 14th position.

Championship Hunt: With six races remaining in the 2002 season, there are still 18 teams that can win the Truck Series Championship.

Past History: The No. 4 team has only competed at Texas one time and thatwas
earlier this year, where the team was involved in an accident after only three laps.

This Week's Truck: Ruttman will be racing "Hulk" at Texas Motor Speedway this
week. Ruttman will be the fifth different driver of Hulk since last year when Hamilton won with it at Darlington.

Performance Chart: Hulk
DATE RACE START/FINISH DRIVER
10-13-00 Texas 25 11 Joe Ruttman
3-4-01 Homestead 5 9 Joe Ruttman
5-12-01 Darlington 3 1 Bobby Hamilton
8-26-01 Nazareth 33 31 Sammy Sanders
9-28-01 South Boston 10 5 Joe Ruttman
3-15-02 Darlington 18 8 Brian Rose
4-13-02 Martinsville 9 27 Brian Rose
5-7-02 Texas 14 35 Brian Rose
6-29-02 Milwaukee 12 19 Brian Rose
7-27-02 Michigan 16 23 Brian Rose
8-2-01 IRP 10 30 Bobby Hamilton


No. 4 Team's 2002 Craftsman Truck Series Event Results
Location Start Finish Laps Status Money Won Driver
Daytona 4 3 100 of 100 Running $ 39,640 Brian Rose
Darlington 18 8 147 of 147 Running 9,975 Brian Rose
Martinsville 9 27 223 of 250 Running 7,815 Brian Rose
St. Louis 27 8 160 of 160 Running 14,425 Brian Rose
Pikes Peak 13 10 200 of 200 Running 12,675 Brian Rose
Dover 15 30 49 of 200 Running 9,415 Brian Rose
Texas 14 35 3 of 167 Accident 8,740 Brian Rose
Memphis 13 10 200 of 200 Running 12,100 Brian Rose
Milwaukee 12 19 200 of 203 Running 8,365 Brian Rose
Kansas 16 21 157 of 167 Accident 10,515 Brian Rose
Kentucky 19 24 144 of 150 Running 11,640 Brian Rose
Loudon 10 25 195 of 207 Accident 7,015 Brian Rose
Michigan 16 23 97 of 100 Running 10,390 Brian Rose
IRP 10 30 170 of 200 Suspension 7,045 Bobby Hamilton
Nashville 7 4 151 of 151 Running 10,375Bobby Hamilton Jr.
Richmond 7 14 199 of 200 Accident 6,315 Bobby Hamilton

Texas (Next Event) Joe Ruttman

Totals 2395 of 2802 (85.4%) $ 186,445

Ruttman's 2002 Craftsman Truck Series Event Results click here

For More Information see www.bobbyhamiltonracing.com
 

©2002 Bobby Hamilton Racing