Ruttman makes first NCTS start since '02 (cont'd)

"We're both in the Nashville area, BHR and myself," Ruttman said. "When Bobby's death came along, it kind of rekindled the friendship that I had on the team from prior years of being with him. That's what piqued our interest in deciding that maybe we could work something out."

If anything, Ruttman is grateful for the opportunity to get back on the track again.

Ruttman in 18 Dodge

Joe Ruttman spent his last three full seasons with Bobby Hamilton Racing and won five races with the team.

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"There's no guarantee of tomorrow," he said. "I think if I would have an advantage, it would be that I realize that you've got to grasp the moment.

"I think when you're younger, you just say, 'I've got tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow.' I realize every tomorrow is a blessing in my case. I embrace that 100 percent."

If Ruttman had his druthers, Kansas wouldn't be his choice of places to make his comeback. Still, Ruttman said the secret to running well anywhere is as simple as the definition of "chassis neutral."

"What that means to me is when you enter the corner, when you turn the steering wheel, you want the front to turn and you want the rear to follow," Ruttman said. "In other words, you don't want the back end trying to pass you and you don't want to turn the wheel and the thing want to go straight.

"You hope to go off in the corner at the bravest speed you can and you want both ends of the vehicle to be in control. No matter what track you're at, that's the key to winning and losing races."

It wouldn't be surprising if Ruttman's somewhat rusty right off the bat, but at the same time, he knows the expectations that are being placed on him. With 111 top-10 finishes in 168 truck races, Ruttman is used to running near the front.

"The one thing everyone questions is how well you're going to perform," he said. "I realize that as well as anybody because I've been in this sport longer than anybody that's breathing right now. It's a performance sport, and if I don't perform, I'm out.

"So do I realize the importance of every opportunity? You better believe I do. I'm going to give it 110 percent and let the chips fall where they may. I've got the capability of performing at the level I need to perform at. Now I just have to go out and back up those big words and perform."