Can two brothers actually fill a 60-year racing span? Yes, it has been done. The incredible Ruttman brothers, Troy and Joe, have left a legacy that no one can touch.
Born 14 years apart and having two noticeably opposite racing choices, the Ruttman name has been evident for some 60 years.
Oklahoma-born Troy started competing in California shortly after racing resumed when World War II ended. The gangly teenager was noticed right away for his lead foot, and his non-compromising style got him very early headlines. As a 17-year-old, he was beating the best in the business in the very tough midget racing circuit.
He caught the eye of J.C. Agajanian, but when he found out how young he was, he passed on signing him. Ruttman’s prowess impressed others as he got a ride in the Indy 500 in 1949. He faked his ID to get in at age 19. He was the youngest starter in the Memorial Day classic until 18-year-old A.J. Foyt IV surpassed him.
Ruttman couldn’t find a car to hold him at Indy. After three non-successes, Agajanian signed him to his famous No. 98 with Clay Smith turning the wrenches. The effort in 1952 was nearly  thwarted when, during a pit stop, the car caught on fire. Heroics by Smith and Ruttman got the car running again.
Troy was a distant second to Bill Vukovich when the leader broke a steering linkage with nine laps to go, and Ruttman, in the last upright dirt car to win, at age 22 became the youngest ever to win the race.
Ruttman’s fortunes went downhill. He was badly injured in a sprint-car race that summer and was out over a year. He then fought a weight and substance-abuse problem. He came back to Indy in 1954. He flew into the lead but blew a tire and spun. He raced hard back to fourth.
Trying a Novi in 1955, he failed to qualify. He had the 1955 winning car in the 1956 race but spun out early to miss a crash. Troy was outside pole in 1957 and was leading on lap 12 when a piston burned. It was found there was no water in the car.
Year after year, Troy would race mainly Indy and some stock-car races. He raced near the front at Indy but always had mechanical trouble. When the roadster era effectively ended in 1964, Troy was one of many who walked away from racing. A flip at Trenton, N.J., helped cinched that.
In 1969, his son Troy, Jr., died in a crash in his super modified in the first race held at Pocono, Pa. Troy retired to Florida. He died of cancer in 1997.
Joe Ruttman might be the best driver to ever race in the NASCAR Cup division and not win a race. He started racing very young, like Troy, and finished 10th in his NASCAR debut in 1963.
He then moved his efforts to USAC and ARCA where he was a frequent winner and won a USAC stock-car championship.
In the late 1970s, he ran in the NASCAR Cup division. In 1982, he was a member of the seven-car Jim Stacy stable.
Ruttman was a solid contender. He was leading the spring race at Richmond until his rear axle housing broke. One lap later it rained, and the race was curtailed. But Dave Marcis had passed him and was awarded the victory.
Ruttman was a solid runner in 1982. He was in fact leading the Cup points when he suddenly walked away from the Stacy ride. It was revealed that Joe had never been paid for his work. He picked up other rides and was a regular front runner, but never won a Cup race.
When the Craftsman Truck Series inaugurated in 1996, Ruttman was a charter driver and regular winner and point contender. He certainly helped continue the growth of the fledgling series.
Troy and Joe Ruttman have spanned racing for some 60 years and left their marks in doing so.