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Do you have a funny story about Joe that you want to share?
Or do you just want to tell about the first time you met him?
Email us at Joe Ruttman
The first time I met Joe....
Working With JoeThere are many stories my husband can tell about dear ol' Joe. He is loved by our family VERY much (as is Peggy) because the time that we spent around them were to be cherished forever. So let me start off by telling you this first story..and hopefully we can email you periodically with others...as most of them are pretty funny.
We are Scot and Sydney Schmitter. Scot was privileged enough to have spent 3 years on Truck teams with Joe as driver. Scot was an employee of Roush Racing in Livonia, Michigan and got to know Joe pretty well over the years.
From his great sense of humor and witty personality came many stories that will never be forgotten! This is one H*** of a man! And I might add that we just loved Peggy too!
I believe it was a Nashville race. Joe and another driver had been knocking into each other for at least 15 laps. Joe rather was doing a lot of bumping. Joe kept trying to pass and just wasn't able to get around. By about the 16th lap this driver was stuffed into the wall and gave Joe a nice "fingers" up (yes, that USA bird) as Joe made his way by him. So Joe comes across the head set to the team and says "I think he wants me to go to the high side!" and everyone in the pits just about lost it!
You would never know Joe's age if he didn't tell! He's very young at heart and I think that's why so many of the team members loved him so. You didn't see the age gap between him and the younger (Scot was just 24 himself at this point) crew members.
Scot recalls hearing over the headset on more than one occasion "Tell Joe that bumper's not a horn!" Well, we all know a little rubbing never hurt anyone.
And as for personal experiences...neither Scot nor I will ever forget the yearly BBQ's held at Peggy and Joe's home. We especially remember the first one. They actually had a GREASED pig race in their front yard! The second year they had sumo wrestling in their back yard. We actually met Kenny Irwin, Jr. at that BBQ and have a photo of him in one of those really large sumo wrestling outfits!
Those three years for Scot were truely unforgettable and he has memories that will last a lifetime!
We think about Joe and Peggy all the time. Especially saying prayers for Peggy's health. We are dealing with cancer in our family as well with our five year old son Matthew who has Leukemia and we know what a life altering thing having a family member with cancer can be! We send our love to them both and the rest of their family.
Sydney and Scot Schmitter
Michigan
The First Time I Met Joe
I somehow managed to get invited to a Ride and Drive held by
one of Joe's former team owners up at Road Atlanta... it was
kind of an ultimate fantasy camp for wannabe racers. Joe was
on hand in his LCI truck giving "full speed ahead" rides.
Until the trip to Atlanta I had never cared too much the
Craftsman Truck series because I really didn't know a much
about it. A buddy who made the trip with me and I had the
pleasure of Joe's company at dinner that evening and the
topic came up that I hadn't ridden with Joe in his truck.
Joe made it a point to invite me to take a ride the next
day,which I did. Bottom line... I have been a Ruttman fan
ever since.
Five laps around that road course made a believer out of me.
I rode with a lot of "drivers" during my two days up there
in Georgia but I'm here to tell you, Mr. Ruttman is one of
the finest ambassadors motorsports has ever had... I've been
privileged to have been able to meet quite a few drivers over
the years but there are three who stand out as being, not
only incredibly good at what they do, but genuinely nice
people who make it a point to let you know they appreciate
your interest in them... Dan Gurney, Ted Musgrave, and Joe.
Joe and I have crossed paths a few times over the years...
at one point we realized we raced go karts pretty much at
the same time and at some of the same tracks in California.
In fact, we both drove karts built by Mickey Rupp...
We all probably come to this page because we are, in one way
or another, fans of this true gentleman... The sport is lucky
to have him and I feel quite lucky to have been able to sit
in his office at 160 miles an hour and watch him work.
Go out there an snatch you a championship this year, Joe.
And, please, go easy on Ted. You know, with the state of
affairs in Winston Cup and Busch moving closer and closer in
the direction of the Cup cars I would have to say the
Craftsman Trucks offer up some of the best, wheel to wheel
racing NASCAR has to offer.
I watched Joe win Daytona from the backstretch and managed to
chat with him for a few seconds in the Hamilton pits before
the Busch Race... thanks Joe, for giving me someone to pull
for this year... yeah, I'm a Musgrave fan too, what can I
say... you two are both cut from the same piece of cloth and
I am privileged to have met both of you.
Jim
Orlando, Florida
The First Time I Met Joe....
The first time I saw Joe Ruttman was in 1978. We had gone to
Bakerfield Speedway, a quarter mile track in Bakersfield,
California. It was a special event paying $1000 to win.
That was a lot of money for this track back then. A guy we
had never heard of arrived in a very unimpressive yellow/duct
tape camero.
When the main event started, he proceeded to lap the field 4
times! (that is not an exaggeration) My husband became an
avid Joe Ruttman fan that night and we have traveled all over
the country, from Canada to Daytona, to watch Joe race.
We soon learned that Joe is not only a great racer, but also
a very nice person.
Candi Easter
Bakersfield, California
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Smile
These pictures are amazing! TUGBOAT.
*A police recruit was asked during the exam, "What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?" He said, "Call for backup."
*At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and said, Johnny what is the matter? Little Johnny responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."
Runaway Husband
This Middle aged man was going through his mid-life crisis so he went out and bought him a new bright red Porsche. So he decided to take his new Porsche on a test drive down the interstate one day. He got up to about 85 mph and all of a sudden he saw this highway patrolman with his blue lights and siren blaring coming toward him.
He decided he and his new Porsche would outrun the officer. So the man sped up to 95 mph,and then to 105 mph, but the patrolman was still coming. The man finally came to his senses and said to himself, "This is crazy, I could go to jail for this," so he pulled over.
The patrolman came to the car and told the man, "It has been a long day and I am tired. If you can give me an excuse no one else has ever given me I will let you go." Well, the man told the officer, "Last night my wife ran off with a patrolman and when I seen you chasing me I thought you were
trying to bring her back." The officer looked at the man and said, "Have a nice day."
Dust if you must.
But wouldn't it be better to paint a picture, or write a letter, bake a cake, or plant a seed.
Ponder the difference between want and need.
Dust if you must.
But there is not much time, with rivers to swim and mountains to climb!
Music to hear, and books to read, friends to cherish and life to lead.
Dust if you must.
But the world's out there with the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair, a flutter of snow, a shower of rain.
This day will not come round again.
Dust if you must.
But bear in mind, old age will come and it's not kind.
And when you go, and go you must, you, yourself, will make more dust.
Remember, a house becomes a home when you can write "I love you" on the furniture.
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