For Immediate Release: October 17, 2007
Contact: Amy Ruman 330.813.2323 cell
Munroe Falls, OH –After a phenomenal 2007 season and finishing as the GT-1 Northeast Division Champion, Amy Ruman’s expectations were aimed high for a National Championship title this year at Heartland Park Topeka, KS.
After a very long week in Topeka, Ruman qualified 6th on the grid for the race. But unfortunately, Ruman’s dream ended early – really early – on the first lap of the race.
The top six of the GT-1 grid shaped up to look like a mini Trans-Am race. Tony Ave qualified on the pole, with defending Runoffs Champion Phil Simms in 2nd, Mike Lewis in 3rd, Bill Gray in 4th, Simon Gregg in 5th, and Amy Ruman in 6th to round out the first three rows. Ruman, driving the #23 McNichols/Goodyear/Cenweld Chevrolet Corvette, had a great start and got by Gregg on the front straight. She immediately went to work on Bill Gray for 4th. The field was nose to tail heading into the first part of the course. Then, upon entering turn 6, a tight left hander, Ruman was suddenly drilled from behind by the #09 car driven by Shawn Gray (qualified in 8th). Ruman’s car was knocked sideways, then hit again and pushed to the middle of the corner where she was then T-boned and hit by the #9 car of Jordan Bupp, sending her off-track into the mud.
The corner workers pushed Ruman out of the mud and she limped the wrecked #23 around to the pit lane. The crew tried to see if it was possible to continue, but the car had sustained too much damage.
“To be taken out of the National Championship race like that on the first lap is absolutely ridiculous!” remarked Ruman. “I felt bad for my team and my sponsors, and I felt bad for Jordan Bupp too. Jordan had nowhere to go when he hit me. This was one of the most disappointing races of my career.”
“We had such a great season, so many pole positions and victories and the #23 McNichols/Goodyear/Cenweld Chevrolet Corvette felt really good on race day. I’d like to thank my sponsors again for all their support during this great season,” exclaimed Ruman.
Television coverage of the entire 2007 SCCA National Runoffs will be aired on SPEED Channel. The GT-1 race will air Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at 12:00pm ET. You can view the full SCCA Runoffs TV schedule at http://www.scca.com/eventitems.aspx?item=360&event=5643&hub=1. For more information, visitwww.speedtv.com or www.scca.com.
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