October 13, 2002 – RUMAN RUNS TO 12TH PLACE FINISH AT ROAD ATLANTA

Braselton, GA – Bob Ruman and the Ruman Racing team brought the Cenweld/McNichols Corvette home for a 12th place finish at Road Atlanta this week for the Trans-Am 100 presented by The Crank. After qualifying 12th, the Cenweld/McNichols Corvette ran a strong 8th place for most of the latter half of Friday’s race, but a late race stop for a splash-and-go for fuel dropped it four spots to its 12th place finish. It was a fairly uneventful race, with only a single pace-car incident coming about some 8 laps into the race to take care of a car stranded on the outside of turn one. A gamble for running the entire race with no fuel stop failed to pay off as no more situations requiring a pace car materialized.

“We were getting around Road Atlanta much faster than the last time we were here in 1999,” said Ruman. “We ended up having to re-gear for the higher speeds we were seeing. The car was working fairly well and by mid-race I had settled into 8th. We only needed a couple more laps behind the pace car and our fuel load would have gone the distance, but as it was, we knew we’d be about a gallon short, so we had to make the late stop. The Ruman Racing crew did their usual great job with the pit-stop, but since it was under a green flag, a couple of the other competitors were able to get by while we were on pit lane.”

“Speaking of great jobs,” Ruman continued, “I’ve really got to hand it to Boris Said and the ACS team. They’ve done an outstanding job all year long and we on the Cenweld/McNichols Corvette team want to offer our congratulations on their championship.”

Television – Trans-Am round eleven, Trans-Am 100 presented by The Crank – You?ve Never Seen a Ratchet Like This! will be broadcast on Friday, October 18 on Speed Channel 8:00pm (ET).

On Deck – Trans-Am season finale, Virginia International Raceway Speedfest, Sunday, October 27, LIVE on Speed Channel 1:00pm (ET)

October 08, 2002 – RUMAN PUSHES ON TO ROAD ATLANTA AFTER
MIAMI OFFERS NO RELIEF

Miami, FL – Bob Ruman and the Ruman Racing team is pushing on to Road Atlanta this week for the Trans-Am 100 presented by The Crank. The team continues to work hard for a turn-around in their toughest season yet. Last Sunday’s Grand Prix Americas race in Miami ended early with a clutch failure and a19th place finish.

This Friday, the #23 Cenweld/McNichols Corvette will take to the Road Atlanta track with high hopes for a return to top-ten finishes. The round eleven of twelve 2002 Trans-Am race will be 40 laps (100 miles) and is part of the Petit Le Mans nearly week-long event. Ruman is in 13th in the Trans-Am Championship points standings.

“We’re working hard but just not getting any relief yet from the dry spell,” explained Ruman. “We?ve done well previously at Road Atlanta and are presenting a positive front. Miami was hard for the crew and our fans. But I cannot say enough how much I appreciate our fans’ and sponsors’ support during this tough season. We’re going to continue to work as hard as we can for good races at Road Atlanta and VIR.”

Television – Trans-Am round eleven, Trans-Am 100 presented by The Crank – You’ve Never Seen a Ratchet Like This! will be broadcast on Friday, October 18 on Speed Channel 8:00pm (ET).

On Deck – Trans-Am season finale, Virginia International Raceway Speedfest, Sunday, October 27, LIVE on Speed Channel 1:00pm (ET).

October 03, 2002 – RUMAN READY TO RACE AT TRANS-AM’S NEWEST STREET COURSE IN MIAMI

Munroe Falls, OH – Veteran Trans-Am competitor Bob Ruman is eager to get back to racing after the September break in the schedule at the inaugural Grand Prix Americas in the streets of downtown Miami. This weekend will be round ten of twelve in the 2002 Trans-Am season. Ruman, in the #23 Cenweld/McNichols Corvette, is 12th in the Trans-Am Championship points standings coming into Sunday’s race.

“We’ve been able to work on a number of things during the past month and we should be in good shape for the race. As I’ve said before, I love street races and I’m sure the Miami course will be as great as if not better than the Denver and Washington, D.C. temporary courses we were on earlier this year. Street races take even more precision from all the drivers than any other type of racing.”

The Grand Prix Americas will be held on a 1.54 mile temporary street course with 16 turns. The 65 lap race (100 miles) will be at 4:00pm on Sunday.

Ruman Racing will welcome a large group of sponsors to the track at Miami. “We’re happy to have a group of employees and customers from our sponsor, McNichols Co., at the Miami race,” said Ruman. McNichols Co. is based in Tampa, FL, and services the U.S., Canadian, and Mexican steel products market.”

Television – Trans-Am round ten, Grand Prix of the Americas, Miami, FL, broadcast same day tape delay on Sunday, October 6 on Speed Channel 5:30pm (ET).

On Deck – Trans-Am round eleven, Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta on Friday October 11, broadcast same day tape delay on Speed Channel 8:00pm (ET).

September 05, 2002 – RUNNING IN 9TH, MECHANICAL WOES STRIKE AGAIN AS RUMAN FINISHES 14TH AT DENVER

Denver, CO – Bob Ruman’s tough season continued at the inaugural Shell Grand Prix of Denver on Sunday as oil pump problems ended his race three-quarters of the way through the event. Ruman, in the #23 Cenweld/McNichols Corvette, had started in 16th and had moved his way up to 9th until the pump failure. Ruman placed 14th.

“It’s just been a tough season,” lamented Ruman. “I liked the Denver course, we had a good run going in the race, but we think something in the oiling system failed. It’s been hard to catch a break this year. We’ve had excellent pit stops and been able to move up consistently throughout each race. Some seasons are like that, though, and we?re determined to persevere and press on to Miami.”

“I’ve really got to hand it to the organizers of this race,” he continued, “They managed to put together a great track and there were over 100,000 fans drawn to the event. Street courses always seem to be great shows and I know we put on a good one. I had some great wheel to wheel racing with several of the other competitors and I can tell you it was plenty exciting from the driver’s seat.”

Television – The Shell Grand Prix of Denver Trans-Am 100 will be broadcast this Sunday, September 8 on Speed Channel 2:00-3:30pm (ET).

On Deck – Trans-Am round ten, Grand Prix of the Americas, Miami, FL, broadcast October 6 on Speed Channel 2:00-3:30pm (ET).

August 28, 2002 – RUMAN LOOKS TO CONTINUE RUNNING IN TOP-5 AT DENVER GRAND PRIX TRANS-AM

Munroe Falls, OH – Veteran Trans-Am competitor Bob Ruman will head to the inaugural Shell Grand Prix of Denver this weekend determined to continue his three race streak of running in the top-five. In the last two races, Ruman, in the #23 Cenweld/McNichols Corvette has run strong. This August, he finished 4th at Trois-Rivieres and then was in 5th at Road America with two laps to go before an altercation with another driver. Ruman also led during the Road America race.

“While we’ve had a very up and down season so far this year, we are tremendously encouraged by our solid performance in the last two races,” explained Ruman. “Road America’s finish was an extreme disappointment considering how error free the entire race was for our team. We plan to arrive in Denver with even more determination than ever for a high finish. We’re looking forward to the street race. Street races often prove to be a strength for our team.”

The Denver course is a 1.65 mile temporary street circuit downtown. The 61-lap race will be on Sunday at 4 pm (CT). This will be the ninth of twelve Trans-Am races, and the final one west of the Mississippi. The Trans-Am Series will be appearing with the CART Series at Denver and the next race in Miami.

Television – The Shell Grand Prix of Denver Trans-Am 100 will be broadcast on a tape delay Sunday, September 8 on Speed Channel 2:00-3:30pm (ET).

On Deck – Trans-Am round ten, Grand Prix of the Americas, Miami, FL, broadcast October 6 on Speed Channel 2:00-3:30pm (ET).