August 03, 2006 – Munroe Falls, OH – Niki Ruman and Amy Ruman will both be driving this weekend at the double National SCCA weekend at Pocono International Raceway, PA.

Niki Ruman will be driving her #20 Spec Racer Ford for the second time this season after competing in the July National at Watkins Glen. “I am really happy to get back in the car again this weekend. I will be focusing on putting together quick lap times and using the draft. It should be a fun race weekend,” stated Ruman.

Amy Ruman is coming off of last weekend’s GT-1 win at Nelson’s Ledges Road Course. Ruman will be trying to lock in two more GT-1 wins at this weekend’s double driving the #23 McNichols/SafetyToday/Cenweld Corvette.

“I have done well here at Pocono in the past, hopefully I can score two more wins. The car has just been so strong for me this year and my crew has done a great job on setup’s and preparation,” commented Ruman.

Ruman is currently leading the Northeast Division in the points chase.

Next up: Sept. 3: SCCA National at Nelson’s Ledges Road Course, OH

rumanracing.com McNichols.com safetytoday.com

August 02, 2006 – **Press Release from Heartland Park Topeka news on www.hpt.com

TOPEKA, Kan. (Aug. 1, 2006) – The longest continuously-running road race series in the United States will continue to boast that designation.

Plans are already ongoing in order for Heartland Park Topeka to host two Trans-Am(r) series events in 2006, the 40th Anniversary of the Trans-Am series. The first event, billed as “Trans-Am Thunder in the Heartland”, will be run Labor Day, Sept. 4 following the final SCCA National Event weekend of the year and will also include the Spec Racer Ford and Spec Miata SCCA classes. The second and final event of the series is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 8 and will be a Trans-Am only race leading into the 2006 SCCA National Championship Runoffs(r) week.

“Trans-Am has been the longest running road racing series in the United States and to see that legacy lost would be a great shame. By reaching out to grassroots racers, GT-1 racers and the professional drivers with those cars still in their garages, we believe that the Trans-Am legacy can be continued for the 2006 season,” Heartland Park Topeka owner Raymond Irwin said.

“The Trans Am Series has been through many transitions but each time the competitors, fans, and sponsors have shown their enjoyment and support for the series by carrying the brand forward again. Heartland Park Topeka is proud to add to that support by hosting two 2006 Trans Am series races.”

Most recently operated in conjunction with the Champ Car World Series, Trans-Am ceased operations following the 2005 campaign. The 2006 Trans-Am Series will be the first appearance at Heartland Park Topeka for Trans-Am since the inaugural season of the facility in 1989. That first SCCA Trans-Am event at Heartland Park was claimed by former two-time IMSA champion and Kansas native Max Jones.

“With the current resurgence of the Ford Mustang and expectations of the new Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Charger rejoining this popular segment of the United States marketplace, the Trans-Am series is just a step away from being back on the track,” Irwin said. “SCCA and Heartland Park Topeka are working together to carry the series forward through 2006 in order to keep the series name and recognition alive”

Created in 1966 by the SCCA as the Trans-American Sedan Championship, the Trans-Am series originated with cars in SCCA’s “A” Production class, but eventually included purpose-built tube-frame race cars competing on road courses. Trans-Am was known through the late 1960s and early 1970s as a series for muscle cars like the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Challenger. Another domestic muscle car, the Pontiac Trans Am, was named after the series.

“Obviously, the Trans-Am series is currently in a state of flux,” SCCA President and CEO Jim Julow said. “Trans-Am is a very important name not only in SCCA history, but motorsports history as well. We are excited that Raymond Irwin has stepped in so that we may continue the tradition of the longest continuously-running road racing series in North America in 2006.”

The 2006 race series marks the 41st consecutive season of competition for the venerable road racing series. Events will be promoted by Heartland Park Topeka and sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing. Additional information, including purse payout, vehicle and driver eligibility and event partners will be announced shortly.

For more information, please visit www.hpt.com.

August 01, 2006 – Munroe Falls, OH – Amy Ruman, piloting the #23 McNichols/SafetyToday/Cenweld Corvette, scored her third win of the season this past weekend in a hometown race at Nelson’s Ledges Road Course.

With steamy hot weather posting temperatures in the 90’s all weekend, Ruman qualified in first, securing her fourth pole position of the season. She had a lighting fast lap in the only qualifying session of the day, posting a 1:01.939, with second place going to Tom Sloe with a 1:04.283.

The Sunday race was a hot one at 1:30 in the afternoon. Ruman was geared up and ready to take on the seven car GT-1 field. Second place car Tom Sloe did not make the grid and had to start from the back, bumping third place car Csaba Bujdoso into second place for the start. It was a drag race to the first turn with Ruman wining the corner, and Ruman did not look back. She set the pace breaking the track record set by Bret Moyer in May’s National of 1:03.068, with a 1:02.678. The field could not keep up with her as she led flag to flag lapping the entire field including the second place car of Ryan McManus and third place car Dick Greer.

“That was a great weekend for us! I was on a mission to bring a win home for my team and my sponsors this weekend. I was the hottest race of the season that’s for sure. I just tried to make sure I stay focused and hit all of my marks every lap. I was really excited to get my third track record this year and another win!” stated Ruman.

Ruman Racing welcomed team sponsor Safety Today’s president, Ted Cowie, to the track this weekend. Many other hometown friends and family were also in attendance this weekend to witness Ruman’s win. “It was really great to have so much support this weekend in the stands!”

Ruman maintains first in the GT-1 Northeast Division points chase with 43 points.

Next up: August 6: Double National at Pocono International Raceway, PA

rumanracing.com McNichols.com safetytoday.com

July 13, 2006 – Munroe Falls, OH – Amy Ruman and Niki Ruman took to the track this past weekend at Watkins Glen International Raceway in New York.

Amy Ruman was ready to go after the test day on Friday. Ruman captured her third GT-1 pole of the season in the morning qualifier, and it held through round two in the afternoon. Bill Rozmajzl got under Bill Thumel in the afternoon qualifier to set the grid for the top three GT-1’s.

Ruman set the pace early by jumping out in front of the field posting anywhere from a 5 to 11 second gap on Bill Thumel in second place. Ruman broke the track record on lap three, posting a time of 1:52.67. Unfortunately the race moved in the wrong direction for Ruman as she slowly started to loose her lead. Thumel passed Ruman into turn one about halfway through the race, and then Ruman passed Thumel back going up the esses. On the same lap Thumel passed Ruman back heading into the boot. Bill Rozmajzl then caught Ruman on the last lap of the race to make a pass for second, leaving Ruman disappointed in third place.

“The track just ate up our tires today. By mid-race I lost all grip in the rear, I couldn’t get off the corners to put down any kind of speed. My lap times fell and the guys just caught me. We made a mistake and should have run a different tire compound because this track is just so fast. At least we got a track record!” stated Ruman.

Ruman inches back into first in the GT-1 Northeast Division points chase with 31 points.

Niki Ruman was back to racing after welcoming son Robert James Ruman Skinner to the team on March 17. She qualified 18th for the race, which was mid-pack in the large SRF field. She diced it out with a few competitors most of the race and ended up finishing 19th.

“My last race was here at the Glen a year ago, and I was quite happy to get back into the seat. I was able to improve on my times throughout the weekend and was pleased with that. I had a tough start in the race; I got caught up in a slower lane and lost several spots. I spent most of the race trying to recover those lost positions. But I had the best cheering section, with my two and a half year old daughter Katie and three month old son Bobby!”

Next up: July 30: National at Nelson’s Ledges Road Course, OH

rumanracing.com McNichols.com safetytoday.com

June 20, 2006 – For Immediate Release: June 20, 2006
Contact: Amy Ruman

Munroe Falls, OH – Amy Ruman and the Ruman Racing team thought they would have another battle on the track this weekend, but a mechanical failure took her out of the race.

Ruman was on the pole after the morning qualifier, but it didn’t hold through the second round as Bret Moyer got under her time. Ruman and Moyer were playing the qualifying game – each waiting for the other to head out in the second round. Track conditions changed, getting hotter and greaser as the day went on. Moyer headed out mid-way though the session, posting a lap of 54.363. Ruman and the crew were ready and decided to try and answer. Ruman was able to put together two good laps, the faster of the two being a 54.378, but Moyer’s faster time held and thus snagged the pole by fifth teen thousands of a second (0.015 difference).

“Qualifying was a blast! Unfortunately for us, I did not end up with the pole. We tried our best to regain the position, but I just missed it. Bret did a good job on that lap,” stated Ruman.

The race started on another hot afternoon in PA with five GT-1’s in the field. Moyer, Ruman, Valley, and Bujdoso rounded out the top four starters. Moyer and Ruman had a great start, racing neck and neck down to turn one. Ruman tucked onto Moyer’s bumper and off they went, both posting great lap times early. Moyer would put a few car lengths on Ruman coming out of the last turn up the hill, and then Ruman would catch him up in the back section.

“Bret seemed to get me going up that hill onto the front straight, but I would gain a bit back in the tighter spots on the course. Coming down the front straight on lap thirteen, I went to grab 5th gear and something broke. I had to pull off course and our day was done. It turns out that the input shaft broke in half,” exclaimed Ruman. “I was really upset that we broke and didn’t get a finish, Bret and I were having a great race.” Moyer went on to finish and win, with Valley in second and Bujdoso in third.

The crew will have the car fixed and ready to go in a few weeks for the National at Watkins Glen, NY. Ruman is now tied for second with Moyer in the Northeast Division points chase – both are six points behind Doug Valley.

Next up: July 9: National at Watkins Glen International Speedway, NY

rumanracing.com
McNichols.com
safetytoday.com