July 15, 2002 – TOUGH RACE FOR RUMAN AT TRANS-AM ON THE TARMAC, CLEVELAND GRAND PRIX

Cleveland, OH – It was really a tough one for hometown driver Bob Ruman at Saturday’s Trans-Am on the Tarmac Presented by Microchip, Cleveland Grand Prix race. Ruman qualified 16th on Friday. In Saturday morning’s practice session, however, the car developed an engine problem, necessitating an engine change. This forced Ruman to start at the back of the field for the race, due to the Series’ rules.

Saturday’s late afternoon race had not only beautiful weather, but also an enormous crowd. The stands were full. Upon taking the green, Ruman immediately began moving through the pack. He passed six cars in the first few laps. Then, on lap six, as he approached turn one and went for the brakes, he had none. He was able to spin the car to stop it and then make his way cautiously around the track to pit lane. The crew discovered that the right front brake rotor had just disintegrated. The team changed it out and Ruman was able to continue, about eight laps down. He posted respectable lap times and finished 21st.

“It was such an incredibly disappointing race weekend,” said Ruman. “We had a wonderful crowd of fans and sponsors who came out to watch the race. They were all so supportive. It was just one of those weekends. We are pushing on to next weekend’s National Grand Prix and hoping for a better time.”

On Deck – Trans-Am Race – Capital Trans-Am 100, Cadillac Grand Prix, Washington, D.C., Saturday, July 20, broadcast Live on CBS 2:30-4:00pm (ET)

July 10, 2002 – Niki Ruman qualified 20th and finished 13th in Saturday’s 32 car Spec Racer National race at Lime Rock Park.

“I am extremely pleased with the result of this weekend’s event,” said Ruman. “My car handled perfectly, and the credit for that goes to my husband and crew chief, David Skinner. I had never raced at Lime Rock, despite several visits during Trans-Am events. I had been looking forward to finally getting some track time.”

“I was able to drop my times consistantly each session, including the race. The race itself was exciting. I had a good start and was able to pass about four cars in the first lap. Then I worked on getting by a few more. Everyone I raced with kept it clean and fun!”

July 09, 2002 – LOCAL DRIVER RUMAN RACES TO THE ROAR ON THE SHORE FOR CLEVELAND GRAND PRIX

Three Regional Sponsors on Board –
Cenweld Corp., McNichols Co., and Cleveland Hard Facing

Munroe Falls, OH – Hometown driver, Bob Ruman, will be challenging the Trans-Am field once again this weekend at the Trans-Am on the Tarmac Presented by Microchip, Cleveland Grand Prix race. This will be Ruman’s seventh appearance at the Cleveland Grand Prix in his seventh consecutive Trans-Am season. Ruman comes into round five of the Trans-Am series 13th overall in the Series points standings. Ruman’s highest finish thus far in the season was 5th at Long Beach and he’s looking for another top finish here at Cleveland. He finished 9th overall in the Trans-Am Series points standings in 2001.

Ruman arrives at Cleveland with longtime sponsor Cenweld Corp., a well-established manufacturer and distributor of truck bodies and equipment throughout Ohio. Also returning for a second season as a supporting sponsor is McNichols Co., a national distributor of steel products based in Tampa, Florida with service centers around the country, including Cleveland. Cleveland Hard Facing, Inc. has also come on board for the second year as an associate sponsor for the Cleveland race. Cleveland Hard Facing is a leader in the development and application of high temperature metal alloys and ceramics as overlays on custom fabricated parts.

“Cenweld Corp. and McNichols Co. have really been strong supporters of our program this season,” enthuses Ruman. “These are two companies who have built solid reputations throughout Ohio for their excellent products and attentive customer service. Cleveland Hard Facing is an ingenious engineering company and we are so pleased to have them on board for this race. All three of these companies are the ideal sponsors to have for our program.”

“I am really psyched up that the Cleveland race is finally here. The team has been working diligently since the Mid-Ohio race to prepare a really solid car for me this weekend,” states Ruman. “Now it’s time for me to go to work, bring it to the front and finish there.”

Television – Trans-Am on the Tarmac Presented by Microchip, Grand Prix of Cleveland will be shown Live on CBS Saturday, July 13 from 5:00-6:00pm (ET)

On Deck – Trans-Am Race – Capital Trans-Am 100, Cadillac Grand Prix, Washington, D.C., Saturday, July 20, broadcast Live on CBS 2:30-4:00pm (ET)

June 30, 2002 – For Immediate Release: June 30, 2002

RUMAN FINISHES 15TH AT BUCKEYE 100
MID-OHIO TRANS-AM

Lexington, OH – Bob Ruman of Munroe Falls, Ohio, finished 15th in Saturday’s Buckeye 100 Trans-Am race at the beautiful Mid-Ohio racetrack. Ruman qualified 16th after chasing set-up issues throughout the weekend. He remains 13th overall in Championship points.

A disappointed Ruman was quoted after the race saying, “The Cenweld/McNichols Co. team had kind of a tough race today. We had plenty of power but couldn’t seem to make the car turn. Both days we fought handling woes. We really didn’t want to make the fuel stop-the car was handling better as the fuel load lightened, but we knew we couldn’t finish without the stop. The pit stop did go well, and the crew was flawless, but it was just not enough to make up for the lack of grip.”

Race day was hot, with in-car temperatures reaching 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, Ruman’s cool suit malfunctioned around lap 25 of the 45-lap race, making the second half of the race even more challenging.

“When that yellow came near the end, without the cool suit working the heat in the car was almost too much-there was no breeze at all.”

“These three weeks are really important to us. Trans-Am has dual Ohio races back to back, at Mid-Ohio and Cleveland on July 13, and both are on CBS. I’m looking forward to Cleveland as it’s almost like running a street race and we tend to do well on the street courses.”

On Deck – Trans-Am Race – Cleveland, Saturday, July 13, to be shown on CBS from 5-6:30pm (ET) same-day-tape-delay

June 26, 2002 – RUMAN SEEKS TOP FINISH AT TRANS-AM BUCKEYE 100 AT MID-OHIO

Secures Hard Charger of the Race in Round 3 at Lime Rock

Munroe Falls, OH – Ruman Racing will drive the relatively short distance from their headquarters to the Trans-Am Buckeye 100 this weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio. Driver Bob Ruman will bring the Cenweld/McNichols Co. Corvette to the fourth race in the 2002 Trans-Am Championship. Saturday’s 100-mile event will be broadcast on CBS from 4-5:30pm.

Ruman has competed in 7 consecutive Trans-Am Championship seasons. He finished 9th overall in the Trans-Am Series points standings in 2001. He finished 5th at the 2002 season opener at Long Beach and is currently 13th in the points standings.

“Mid-Ohio is my all-time favorite racetrack,” Ruman explains. “I’ve raced Corvettes at Mid-Ohio for many years and just love every opportunity to compete here. The Trans-Am races here are always intense and this year will be no different. Mid-Ohio also offers our sponsors a fabulous venue for product promotion.”

“I have to give my guys a ton of credit – our pit-stops have been right on this season. We have benefited from our quick and precise stops in the races. Whether it’s a quick engine change or getting me in and out of the pits with fuel and tires as needed, they’ve been in total control,” states Ruman.

It was announced after the Lime Rock race that Ruman secured the Hard Charger of the Race Award. After a problem developed with Ruman’s race engine in the final practice session the morning of the Lime Rock race, the crew changed out the motor forcing Ruman to a starting position at the back of the pack. Even so, Ruman, who finished 9th, moved up the most positions from his original qualifying position and thus garnered the Hard Charger of the Race Award.

Television – Mid-Ohio will be shown on CBS on Saturday, June 29 from 4-5:30pm (ET), same-day-tape-delay

On Deck – Trans-Am Race – Cleveland, Saturday, July 13, to be shown on CBS from 5-6:30pm (ET) same-day-tape-delay.