For Immediate Release: May 23, 2013
Contact: Matt Cleary, Sunday Group Management
media@sundaymanagement.com
(317) 908-2975-Mobile
Munroe Falls, Ohio (23 May 2013) – When the Ruman Racing team left Canadian Tire Motorsports Park just four days ago with a badly damaged No. 23 McNichols Co. Corvette following a late-race crash on Sunday, it was unclear whether the team would be back in race action this weekend as Trans Am stages Round 3 of the championship at Lime Rock Park. After getting back to the shop, the ever-resilient group worked long hours during the week, and those efforts will see Amy Ruman take part in the Lime Rock event utilizing the team’s back up car.
Last weekend, Ruman looked set to once again threaten for another Trans Am podium finish after placing third in the Sebring season-opener. Unfortunately, contact from another car that sent Ruman spinning off course then resulted in a tire failure on the No. 23 Corvette on the very fast back straightaway. The car careened to the left into a concrete wall and though Ruman was unharmed, the McNichols machine sustained significant damage.
After driving all night, the team arrived back to its Ohio-based shop in the wee hours of the morning. The crew immediately went to work Monday morning, switching the motor and transmission from the damaged car over to the back up car. While the original No. 23 machine hasn’t seen much action since Ruman changed to the newer Corvette for the 2012 season, the team’s long history with the car is paying dividends as the familiarity has helped the turn around time be reduced as much as possible in the tough situation.
“The team has worked really hard this week to get everything transferred over and has made very good progress getting the car race ready,” said Ruman. “It’s been a hard week on the guys working long hours, but they knew the deadline that we had to get loaded and headed to Connecticut. I’m really grateful at how much everyone has rallied to make this happen. It’s not an ideal situation, but that’s racing!”
The return to Lime Rock Park will mark Ruman’s second Trans Am start at the 1.5-mile quick “bullring” track. She scored her first of seven podiums last year in her debut at the Connecticut circuit on her way to finishing runner-up in the 2012 Trans Am championship.
Ruman was credited with an eighth place result and will look to gain ground in the championship hunt this weekend as she travels to Lime Rock sitting fifth in the standings.
“The big focus was to make the race and to try and bring home as many championship points as we can,” said Ruman. “The good news is we know this Corvette inside and out, and the last time I ran it I won my first Trans Am race in it at Road Atlanta! Hopefully, we will bring home another win or a podium finish.”
The dedicated Ruman crew will work to dial in the car during two 30-minute practice sessions on Friday ahead of qualifying which is set to begin at 5:10 PM (ET). Saturday’s 100.5-mile, 67-lap race will start at 1:30 PM (ET).
Sponsors: McNICHOLS Nationwide Service Centers is the nation’s largest distributor of Perforated and Expanded Metals; Wire Mesh; Bar, Plank, and Safety Gratings; Stair Treads; Matting; and more. Products are carried in all styles and materials–stocked for 24 hour shipment. “Inspired to Serve”™ 800.237.3820 mcnichols.com Goodyear Tire & Rubber is a Ruman Racing sponsor as well as the Series sponsor.
For quick news and updates during race weekends, please follow Ruman Racing and the Trans-Am Series on Twitter @rumanracing and @gotransam. Be sure to “Like” our official pages on Facebook: Ruman Racing, Amy Ruman (Official Fan Page), McNichols Company, and Go Trans Am.
Race Info/Scoring/Results: www.gotransam.com
Live Timing: www.gotransam.com/live-timing-and-scoring/
Looking ahead: Round 3 – Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Connecticut (May 25) || Round 4 – Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York (June 9)
Ruman Racing, Inc., is based in Munroe Falls, Ohio.
