Back in the day, it took being a real man to even consider sitting in the cockpit of a sprint car. There weren't any of today's ultra-safety precautions. No roll cages meant not being so readily assured that you'd be back to race another day. Today we take all of the safety for granted, but "way back when", the drivers who risked their lives didn't worry about such things. They were there to race. They were real men!

Jim Ruth, racing out of Lansdale, PA., started his sprint car racing career in 1966, driving a car he had purchased which had been built by legendary driver Ted Horn and Jim Shaw. In the  5 races that Jim ran in his rookie season driving this car, he ran at; Hatfield, PA., Olive Bridge, NY., Lincoln Speedway, PA., and 2 times at Flemington, NJ.

Early 1967, Jim purchased his second car, a Hillegas built car, which was also a legendary sprinter, the "Dutch Culp Offy". In his later years of driving, Jim also ran a car built by legendary builder, Dick "Toby" Tobias.

Over the years, Jim ran his sprinter in such clubs as URC, USAC, and IMCA. When choosing what one would call a "home track", Jim went with Selinsgrove Speedway, in PA. A track known for it's speed, especially when a driver was daring enough to run up against the cushion!

He was always known as a gasser, riding the cushion and always heavy on the gas.