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 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.
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