|
 |
|
|
|
|
Ageless Ruttman Revs Up Competitive Juices
Joe Ruttman (No. 18 Fastenal Dodge) feels the shoe is on the other foot when it comes to proving his ability to compete.
“That’s for the other guys to do,” said Ruttman, 62, who’ll rejoin the series April 28 at Kansas Speedway after an absence of nearly five years.
“I think it will be just as important for them to prove as it is to me,” said Ruttman, a 13-time series winner whose last victory came in May 2001 at the age of 56.
Ruttman is no stranger to his former rivals – three-time champion Jack Sprague (No. 60 Con-way Freight Toyota), Mike Skinner (No. 5 Toyota Tundra Toyota) and Ron Hornaday Jr. (No. 33 AES HR Solutions Chevrolet).
|
|
|
Not so with those drivers under the age of 30.
“I compare myself to the young guns in the sport,” he said. “When you first come into racing, you are very eager to prove yourself to so many people.
“Well, even though I’m not young, I still have that high for racing and proving myself. There are a lot of people out there who don’t know who Joe Ruttman is and I have to show them. The only difference between being a young gun in the sport and me is they probably have better eyesight.”
Ruttman’s return may spark some old rivalries and the California native is fine with that.
“I think returning to the series allows for those rivalries to be rekindled, but I don’t think they will be any bigger than what they were,” said Ruttman.
“I’m looking forward to racing against them (but) they have to prove to me they can beat me again.”
PaddockTalk Perspective
|
|
|
| |
|
