When Bobby Hamilton Sr. began the search to fill his own seat of the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge three months before his passing he called upon a select number of drivers he knew could get the job done.  The announcement was made at the end of last season that Hamilton Sr. tagged Ken Schrader as his replacement.  However, Schrader’s Nextel Cup schedule does not permit him to compete full time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series leaving the BHR stable to find a co-driver.  Referring to Hamilton Sr.’s list of drivers he had previously spoke with and the record books for all time winners in the NCTS, the management team at BHR, along with input from Fastenal and Dodge Motorsports, are proud to announce Joe Ruttman as the co-driver of the No. 18 Fastenal Dodge.

Ruttman, who is tied for seventh on the all-time NCTS race winners list, is no stranger to BHR.  The Tennessee native piloted the No. 18 Dodge for the late Hamilton Sr.’s organization in 2000 and 2001.  Coincidently, he gave the company its first victory at Phoenix International Raceway in 2000, the same venue Hamilton won his first Nextel Cup win in 1996.  Ruttman has a total of 13 NCTS victories, including five of which came with BHR, 17 poles, 68 top five’s and 111 top-10 finishes in 168 starts.

“I can’t wait to climb into the Fastenal Dodge,” Ruttman said.  “Bobby Hamilton and I had a great friendship.  I am not here to fill Bobby Sr.’s seat; I don’t think anyone can do that justice as he did.  But to have this opportunity to come back home to work with his organization and Dodge again is a real dream come true.  All of the core people who were here the first time I raced with them are still there.  I believe in the organization, the structure and the future of BHR.  They have proven themselves as champions and one of the most competitive teams in the series in the past and will continue to do so.  I have been using Fastenal products for years and look forward to promoting them.”

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Bobby Hamilton Jr. hasn't driven a Busch Series car in two years and some have questioned his comfort level after the absence.  Bobby responded, "As I said when we first started, there's no phones to answer, and I'm going to tell you guys that I've had a rough time, and it's not all about my dad (Bobby Hamilton Sr.).

As a young married person Bobby is going through some rights of passage that can be hairy for all of us.  Bobby explains, "We've been trying to close on a house, and we finally get into it and then all of a sudden I run down here.  We had to be out of our house by Friday and I had to go to the shop and get back down here.  We just threw everything in a pile to get out.  Then (there's) trying to get moved in and to take care of the stuff with my dad and trying to just get situated again and come down here.  I swear it was the biggest relief to put the window net up and it was like being on a beach somewhere by yourself because it was just my thoughts and my race car and I was ready to get back to work.

Bobby is very fortunate to have a beautiful young wife named Stephanie that is from a racing family and is able to give him the support he needs. As Bobby explains it,"We took two days to come here.  It was just me and my wife to get away from all of the hoopla and relax.  It's funny that you come to work to relax, but I love this stuff.  I've got Legend cars at home, Late Models, and I'm trying to fill every day that I've got running just to keep me busy.

We love this stuff.  And like I said, there's nothing more relaxing than to put that window net up and there's nobody in there talking to you.  It's just you and your spotter and your crew chief, and, to me, that's peace, that's ease."