Upon learning there were only 42 entries for Saturday’s Aaron’s 312 BGN race, crew chief Marc Reno decided to roll the back-up car off the hauler and attempt to qualifying it as well. Veteran driver Joe Ruttman, who has tested for the team on many occasions including last week at Talladega, is scheduled to attempt a qualifying run in the #51 Yellow Pontiac when the two-lap time trials start at 5:00pm/et today. Jimmy Spencer, like always, will be in the #1 Pontiac. The 58-year old Ruttman has tested for the Yellow Racing Team on many occasions, including last week here at Talladega. He has 13 career CTS wins, the last at Pikes Peak in 2001. He also won Daytona earlier that year. Phoenix Racing was already slated for a double-duty weekend with an entry in Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 Winston Cup race. Driver Geoffrey Bodine will attempt to qualify that car [#09 Ford] Friday. He finished third in the Daytona 500. The back-up car Ruttman will attempt to qualify is the same one Spencer finished second with here last year. Spencer will be driving the car he ran at Daytona to start the 2002 season.(PR)(4-18-2002)
