Featured Sports Car — 12 June 2012


Amy Ruman Returns to Trans Am Podium at Mid-Ohio

Photo Credit: Matthew Boyce/SCCA

Lexington, Ohio (11 June 2012) – Amy Ruman scored her second consecutive Trans Am podium of the season at her home track as she raced the No. 23 McNichols Co./Goodyear/Cenweld Corvette to a second place result in front of many family, friends and hometown fans in attendance at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

Ruman opened the 100-mile race from third on the starting grid and immediately made her move past Peterson, wheeling the C6 Corvette up to second place on the opening lap with a strong run through the Carousel corners.

An early full course caution just laps into the race slowed the field and Ruman lined up second on the restart. She took over the lead just two laps later to pace the Trans Am field for the first time at her home track. The No. 23 McNichols Co./Goodyear/Cenweld Corvette showed strong pace throughout the beginning stages of the 45-lap race as Ruman hoped to return to the same Mid-Ohio podium she stood on just one week before in SCCA competition.

Ruman looked to control the pace while in the lead, but had another set of tasks to take on inside the car as the lap count grew. The heat continued to change the handling on the car and Ruman remained busy behind the wheel, making the most of the available in-car adjustments to compensate. The changes helped, but weren’t enough to ultimately hold off the advances of a hard charging Simon Gregg.

But Ruman did not make it easy as the two went side by side through several corners before she ceded the lead. For many laps, the two put on a great show for the crowd running neck and neck.

“We’re happy with second – I’ll take that,” said Ruman. “I was a little disappointed that we weren’t closer at the end of the race. The handling went off and I was trying to just manage the tires. We had a good race at the beginning. Simon (Gregg) and I were running close lap times together and raced side by side for four or five turns so that was pretty cool. He ended up getting in front of me because I didn’t want to be on the outside through Thunder Valley. Then I just thought I’d settle in and see if his tires would fade off or not and then they didn’t.”

In a day that saw temperatures rise past 90 degrees with the track temperature around 133 degrees, Ruman faced a grueling day in the cockpit when her in-car drinking system malfunctioned at the start of the race. Despite the heat, Ruman soldiered to the finish to claim the runner-up spot.

“Unfortunately the water bottle wasn’t working so I had no water the whole race,” added Ruman. “The cool suit worked well though, so it wasn’t that bad. The championship is really close at this point so this was a good finish with valuable points. It was great to be on the podium in front of so many friends and family that came out to support me today. My crew has done a tremendous job for me this season, and we hope to keep the momentum going for that win in the new Vette. ”

With another podium result, Ruman strengthened her position in the championship standings, just eight points out of second place, as the series next heads to New Jersey Motorsports Park July 1.

Viewing Note: The Trans Am Mid-Ohio event will air on MAVTV at 6:00 PM ET Sunday, June 17th. What a perfect way to spend part of Father’s Day!

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