May 18, 2004 – Munroe Falls, OH ? For the fourth race in a row, the Ruman Racing team added another second place finish to their 2004 total while at the Nelson Ledges GT-1 national this past weekend. It was a bit of a long weekend for the team, as Saturday weather brought 50-degree temperatures and rain all day.
Ruman qualified second in the rain on Saturday, and with about five minutes to go; she found the tire wall on the outside of the carousel. Luckily, no damage was done to the car except for a lot of muddy clean up.
Race day was sunny and much warmer. Ruman remained in second after the start and then battled it out for the better part of the race with Tom Sloe.
?As usual, the Nelson?s national was an up and down race for us. Sloe and I were battling for second, when he decided to dive bomb me into turn 12. He t-boned me, then hit me again in the front and straightened me back up. I matched his pressure as we continued door to door through 13; as we exited, I came out in front. I led him a couple more laps, and he hit me again in the left rear corner and tried to spin me, but I held on ? still coming out in front. A few laps later, we split a lapped car in turn 2 and he got by me going into the tree turn. In the same lap, a lapped car held him up, and I passed him back in turn 13. He then passed me again into tree turn. A few laps later he lost it going into 12, wrecked the car, and spun out of control – coming back onto course almost collecting me at turn 13. I slowed and was just able to swerve around his car,? stated Ruman.
Ruman then tried to catch Bret Moyer, the leader. She was right with Moyer on the last lap, but unfortunately, there were not enough laps left in the race for Ruman to try and make a pass for the win.
?I am happy and disappointed at the same time regarding this race. I never have problems racing side by side with anyone, but it is disappointing when others can?t do the same and take shots at you on purpose. Those kinds of actions make racing dangerous, and I don?t want any part of it. I am just happy that I was able to finish the race.?
This was Ruman?s fifth National for the 2004 season. She is currently leading the GT-1 Northeast Division with 42 points.
On Deck: Amy Ruman at the June 5-6: SCCA National at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Ohio
