| | Associated Press
CICERO, Ill. -- Joe Ruttman held off NASCAR Craftsman Truck
Series points leader Greg Biffle in a two-lap shootout Sunday to
win the inaugural Sears Craftsman 175 race at Chicago Motor
Speedway.
The victory was the third of the season for Ruttma, who extended
Dodge's winning streak on the tour to three straight races and four
of the last five.
Although Ruttman started from the pole position, he had to come
from deep in the pack following a pit stop on the 42nd lap. He
re-took the lead on the 115th lap and was passed by Biffle's Ford
on the 137th lap. He went in front to stay on the 163rd lap around
the one-mile speedway.
Two late caution flags, on laps 165 and 171, gave Biffle two
shots at the 55-year-old Ruttman and extended the scheduled 175-lap
distance to 177. Ruttman, however, got a good jump on his rival on
lap 176 and extended his lead to 0.330 seconds -- about three truck
lengths -- at the finish.
Ruttman won $49,040 for his 11th career victory on the tour and
added a $10,000 bonus from series sponsor Craftsman for winning
from the pole.
He averaged 85.259 mph as 10 caution flags totaled 44 laps.
Biffle, who led a race-high 70 laps, extended his series point
lead to 200 over Mike Wallace. Wallace took third in a Ford,
followed by Andy Houston's Chevrolet and the Ford of Rick Carelli.
Rookie Jamie McMurray, starting 20th, was sixth. Bryan Reffner,
Terry Cook, B.A. Wilson and Randy Tolsma completed the top 10. The
first 15 of the 26 cars that finished completed all 177 laps.
Seven drivers exchanged the lead 14 times.
Ruttman, joined in victory circle by team owner Bobby Hamilton,
kept Biffle at bay by blocking the inside lane -- notably on the
next-to-final restart on lap 170.
"There at the end, I was just protecting my position," he
said. "I knew that Greg and Mike were back there and I was going
to do everything that I could do to make sure they stayed behind
me."
Biffle, a five-time winner this season, finished second for the
second time.
"I think we could have gotten back by him if it weren't for the
caution flags there at the end," he said.
Ryan McGlynn and Jimmy Hensley were involved in separate
accidents but weren't injured.
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ALSO SEE
NASCAR Trucks results
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Joe Ruttman holds on to win the Chicago 175.
avi: 1544 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
Joe Ruttman makes his move and passes Greg Biffle for the lead.
avi: 1430 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
 Joe Ruttman takes the time to thank his crew and team owner Bobby Hamilton.
wav: 153 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
A disappointed Greg Biffle felt a bad turn and late cautions cost him the race.
wav: 158 k
RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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