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Trans-Am Driver Amy Ruman finished 2012
in 2nd overall.
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Profile
Born on January 30, 1974
Resides in Kent, OH
Vice President of Cenweld Corp.
Amy is a former Field Hockey coach at Stow-Munroe
Falls High school where she coached for 9 seasons.
She enjoys being involved with the teens in her
community and loves to teach the competition that
drives her, always striving to involve young women
in competitive sports. Amy is a 1996 graduate of
Kent State University, earning her B.B.A. degree in
Business Management with a Marketing minor. She
also enjoys recreational softball, biking, and
skiing.
News
2012 in Review Amy
Ruman Has Stellar Racing Season Career Best
in Trans Am Championship Charge
After making history as the first woman to win a
Trans-Am race with her breakthrough victory in the
2011 season-finale race at Road Atlanta, Amy Ruman
looked to build on that record-setting
accomplishment as she set her sights on a
successful 2012 season.
Those ambitions were met as Amy Ruman and her
Ruman Racing squad posted a stellar season of
results in 2012.
Entering Rumans sixth year of Trans Am
competition and looking to build on the strong
third place points finish to 2011, the Ruman Racing
squad took ownership of a new C6 Corvette sponsored
by McNichols Co., Goodyear, and Cenweld Corp.
Though the new machinery brought a learning
curve for the team, the Bob Ruman-led group quickly
got acquainted with the new chassis early in the
season and put those lessons to work.
The performance of the new Corvette, the
knowledge and expertise of Ruman Racing, and
Amys stout talents behind the wheel combined
for a brilliant 2012 season which saw Ruman
fighting for the Trans Am championship title all
year long.
Ruman amassed an impressive seven podium results
in 10 races including two victories at New
Jersey Motorsports Park and Brainerd International
Raceway.
Those results saw Ruman finish the Trans Am
season runner-up in the championship just 11
points shy of the title. In addition to Trans Am,
she also picked up three wins and two pole
positions in SCCA GT-1 National competition. She
went on to finish fourth in the highly competitive
SCCA GT-1 National Championship Runoffs held at
historic Road America.
After finishing sixth in the season opening
event at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park, Ruman
first stood on the podium at Lime Rock Park
the second stop on the Trans Am schedule. It was
Rumans debut at the quick 1.5-mile
Connecticut road course but she wasted no time
finding the fast way around the track. Looking like
a Lime Rock veteran at the high-speed circuit, she
opened the race from fourth on the grid before
driving to third at the finish.
Next up was Rumans home track of Mid-Ohio
Sports Car Course located just a couple of hours
south of the Ruman Racing shop in Munroe Falls,
Ohio. With a large crowd of family, friends, and
Ohio fans in attendance, Ruman started third and
immediately moved into second at the start. She
would take over the lead following a restart to
lead her first-ever Trans Am laps at her home
track. Despite a drink bottle failure during the
100-mile race held under the extremely hot Midwest
summer conditions, Ruman remained busy behind the
wheel making the most of the available in-car
adjustments to compensate for the continuous
changes in handling due to the extreme heat. The
changes helped but were not enough to hold off a
hard-charging Simon Gregg. After a valiant
side-by-side battle for the lead, Ruman ultimately
ceded first place and took second at the checkered
flag.
Following her two consecutive podium finishes,
Ruman was ready to stand on the top step as she
continued to gain ground in the championship
points. And she did just that in Round 4 at New
Jersey Motorsports Park as Ruman dominated the
final stages of the race and crossed the finish
line with a 20.090-second gap over the rest of the
field. But the win didnt come easy for Ruman
when unfortunate contact with Tony Ave jeopardized
her shot at victory and the No. 23 McNichols
Co./Goodyear/Cenweld Corvette machine sustained a
flat tire forcing her to pit lane for a tire
change. But luck was on Rumans side and the
track went yellow while the No. 23 was on pit lane.
Ruman managed to stay on the lead lap and the No.
23 lined up third with just seven laps to go. Ruman
improved to second with five laps to go and
regained the lead on the following lap and never
looked back to claim her first Trans Am victory of
the season.
Ruman followed up that effort with a run to
second place at historic Watkins Glen for her
fourth consecutive podium as Trans Am marked the
half-way point of its race season.
It was a busy weekend of on-track action at the
Glen with Ruman also competing in SCCA GT-1
competition. A mechanical issue saw the No. 23
McNichols Co./Goodyear/Cenweld Corvette start from
19th on the GT-1 grid but Ruman made it look easy
as she maneuvered from the rear of the field to
claim her third GT-1 victory of the year.
Heading into Round 6 at Road America, Ruman
entered the weekend second in the championship and
had hoped to keep her podium streak going.
But a strong run was cut short when contact with
the No. 87 of Doug Peterson saw the No. 23 sustain
damage forcing Ruman to pit for repairs. Great work
from the Ruman Racing crew kept the No. 23
McNichols Co./Goodyear/Cenweld Corvette on the lead
lap and Ruman restarted 17th with 10 laps to go
the No. 23 running without its hood. Ruman
made the most of the restart to move up six spots
to run 11th with nine laps to go and ultimately
took ninth at the checkered flag.
Focused forward, Ruman Racing set their eyes on
the next race a double header event at
Brainerd International Raceway. While tire issues
prevented Ruman from adding to her podium tally
when she scored fourth in Race 1, she seamlessly
drove to victory in Race 2. Holding a 16-second
advantage over the rest of the field at one point
in the race, she defended against a late-race
charge from Simon Gregg to claim her second win of
the year with a .673-second advantage.
With a two-month break between the Brainerd
International Raceway rounds and the season-finale
event, Ruman Racing was well-prepared for the final
two rounds as they returned to the site of
Rumans breakthrough victory at Road Atlanta.
Once again at the controls of the No. 23 McNichols
Co./Goodyear/Cenweld Corvette which had proven to
be quick all season long, Ruman capped off an
incredible 2012 season with a double podium weekend
of two third place results.
In Race 1, Ruman started third before taking
over second in the early stages of the race. She
would run second for most of the event before
contact with nine laps to go saw the No. 23 sustain
damage but rally to third at the finish. With Race
2s qualifying order set by the results of
Race 1, Ruman opened Sundays race from third
on the grid. Unfortunately, a quick spin on Lap 1
saw Ruman playing catch up for most of the race.
Running lap times faster than the leaders, Ruman
began to dig into the nearly 30-second gap between
her and the lead pack of cars. Ruman Racing
welcomed a late-race caution as the field bunched
back up. Running second at the restart, the stage
was set for an eight-lap dash to the finish making
a valiant battle between Peterson, Ruman and Ave
for the win. Ruman eventually relinquished second
place to finish third for her seventh podium of the
year.
A very impressive season combined with the
strong results in the season-finale saw Ruman
solidify her runner-up finish in the 2012 Trans Am
Championship.
We made a big commitment this season to go
to the new car, and I think the results backed up
our decision, said Ruman. It can be a
risk any time you change equipment, but my team did
a fantastic job learning the car and the
preparation was outstanding all year long. Im
really grateful to have this kind of groupa
great family around me. We had another very strong
year, and I think the new management of the Trans
Am Race Company did an outstanding job as well.
Im looking forward to continuing to see the
Series grow and to keep getting stronger in the
future. I cant believe the season is already
over, but we are already working on our plans for
2013!
Trans-Am Drivers Amy
Ruman, Tony Ave Honored As All Americans By the
AARWBA
Two Trans-Am drivers, Amy Ruman and Tony Ave, are
among the racers earning honors from the American
Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association
(AARWBA) following their outstanding 2011
seasons.
Ruman, driver of the McNichols/Goodyear/Cenweld
Chevrolet Corvette, won AARWBAs Rising Star
award, following her breakout year. Ruman, age 37,
won the season finale at Road Atlanta, to become
the first woman ever to win a Trans-Am Series race
in the series 45-year history.
Wow what a surprise. I was thrilled to
hear that I had been selected for the Rising Star
Award by AARWBA, stated Ruman. What an
honor to be named among some of racing's finest
drivers! The auto racing broadcasters and
journalists have a unique perspective in that they
are following all forms of auto racing across the
country. So to have been chosen for this award from
among all the racers they follow is just
incredible. Their vote of confidence is
inspiring.
I'm still very excited about our
McNichols/Goodyear/Cenweld Trans-Am teams
accomplishments in 2011, but we are already focused
on next year, added Ruman. I love
racing and want to continue to build my competition
portfolio in every way I can.
Winning a Trans-Am race was a feat that eluded
all woman competitors that came before Ruman,
including the likes of Lynn St. James and Deborah
Gregg, arguably the two most accomplished woman
drivers in Trans-Am history.
Gregg, who drove a Lincoln Mercury Capri for
Roush Racing from 1985-1994 (58 career starts),
earned back to back 3rd place finishes at Road
America and Memphis in 1987 in her best ever
showings, en route to a fifth place finish in the
series that year.
St. James, a Trans-Am competitor from 1983-1990
(53 career starts), drove her Roush Merkur XR4Ti,
to 3rd place at Long Beach on her way to seventh
place that year.
Ruman finished the 2011 campaign with three
podium finishes (another woman best) and placed
third overall in the Trans-Am Series Championship,
the highest finish ever for a woman. Ruman has
achieved this success in a relatively short career.
She debuted at Cleveland in 2005, and the Road
Atlanta win was only her 22nd career race.
Rumans achievements and those of all
honorees will be celebrated at the 42nd AARWBA
All-America Team Banquet, which takes place on
January 8, 2012 in the Grand Hall at the Train
Station of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Indianapolis,
IN. Tickets are available to the public at
www.aarwba.org
.
Ruman Becomes First Woman
to Win in 45-Year History of Trans-Am in Wild Road
Atlanta Season Finale
After knocking on the door several times over the
past few years, Amy Ruman, of Kent, Ohio, finally
broke through for her first SCCA Pro Racing
Trans-Am Series victory in the 2011 season finale
at Road Atlanta and became the first woman winner
in the 45-year history of the series.
The key to the race for Ruman was the restart
following the fourth of five full-course caution
periods in the 40-lap race. Running second in her
No. 23 McNichols/Goodyear/Cenweld Chevrolet
Corvette behind leader Mike Lewis, of Poway,
Calif., Ruman got a good jump to take the lead
heading into Turn 1.
A few moments later, Glen Jung, of Osteen, Fla.,
and John Baucom, of Charlotte, N.C., got together
and brought out the day's final full-course
caution. The remaining three laps in the race were
run under yellow, giving the victory to Ruman.
"It feels great," Ruman said. "I feel like it's
long overdue for our team, but I'm excited to be up
here. We worked really hard race after race and
unfortunately, our best results were always third.
We couldn't seem to break that barrier the last
couple years. I led at Brainerd and then it started
raining, and it just seemed like there was always
something blocking our way, mechanical problems or
getting hit.
"This is just a great way to finish the year for
our team, especially McNichols Co. and Goodyear.
They've been backing me for years and I finally
delivered a win. The timing just worked out for us.
I was just patient trying to keep everybody at bay
and if they got around me, I was just going to hold
off to the end of the race and make my move.
Unfortunately for Mike, he made a mistake and I
capitalized on it and the other yellow came back
out. You've got to race to the checkered flag and
that's what we did. Even on those last caution
laps, those were the longest ones of my life,
because I didn't know if they were going to hurry
up and go one more. But I just was patient and just
praying that everything would stay together and we
would see the checkered and we did."
For a while it looked like Lewis might get
another victory just five days after scoring the
GT-1 National Championship at the SCCA Runoffs at
Road America. He took the lead when 2011 series
champion Tony Ave, of Maiden, N.C., pulled onto pit
lane with a mechanical problem on Lap 20. He fell
victim to the final restart, however, and was
forced to settle for second in the No. 12
Goodyear/Cyclo/Red Line Oil Jaguar XKR
participating in his first Trans-Am race of the
season.
"It's good for the series that Amy won, Ave
said. "I'm really happy for her. She did a great
job, earned it, and I'm just proud of her."
Amy Ruman Kicks off 2011 Season at Trans-Am
Series Opener in Sebring
Coming off a very successful season last year, Amy
Ruman and Ruman Racing will be back in action to
compete again in the 2011 SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am
Series and SCCA GT-1 National venues. Ruman returns
to Trans-Am driving her trademark red #23 McNichols
Co./Goodyear/Cenweld Chevrolet Corvette.
Ruman's long time primary sponsor, McNichols
Co., is returning for another season with the Ruman
Racing team. This marks the 10 year anniversary of
sponsor partnership between McNichols Company and
the Ruman Racing team.
"I can't believe we are entering into our 10th
consecutive year together with McNichols Company!
Our partnership throughout the years with McNichols
has really developed into a "HOLE PERFORMANCE"
package," exclaimed Ruman.
Ruman and the team are headed to Florida on
Monday to compete in Trans-Am Round 1, which is
part of the famous American Le Mans Series 59th
running of the Twelve Hours of Sebring race
week.
"Sebring couldn't be a better race to start off
the season since McNichols is headquartered in
Florida. We know we'll put on a great show for them
as well as the other fans at the 12 Hours of
Sebring race week. "We are really looking forward
to Amy and the team competing so close by," said
McNichols Vice President Steven McNichols, who will
be attending Friday's race.
At Sebring, Ruman will take to the track for two
test sessions on Tuesday March 8th, followed by a
practice session Wednesday afternoon. Qualifying
will be Thursday morning and start of the 100 mile
Trans-Am race will be Friday morning at 9:10am.
For quick news and updates during race weekends,
please follow Ruman Racing and the Trans-Am Series
on Twitter @rumanracing and @TransAmSeries. Be sure
to "Like" our official pages on Facebook: Ruman
Racing, Amy Ruman (Official Fan Page), McNichols
Company, and Trans-Am Racing.
Source: www.trans-amracing.com/article.php?ID=1973
Snippets
Trans-Am Drivers Amy Ruman, Tony Ave Honored As All
Americans By the AARWBA
* * *
Ruman Becomes First Woman to Win in 45-Year
History of Trans-Am in Wild Road Atlanta Season
Finale.
* * *
Amy started third on the grid in the first
Trans-Am race of the Brainerd Doubleheader. She
took fourth in Round 7. She put together an
outstanding charge despite the opening-lap incident
with Ebben and two trips to pit lane during the
race. Amy started Round 8 gridded 2nd.
* * *
Amy Ruman was gridded 3rd for the Pro Racing
Trans-Am race at Road America. She crashed on lap
19 of the 25 lap race and finished 11th.
* * *
Amy Ruman is gridded 3rd for the Pro Racing
Trans-Am race at Road America. Green flag is
Saturday, August 20 at 8:00 a.m
* * *
Amy Ruman sits third on the pole at the Pro
Racing Trans-Am series in Trois-Rivieres
* * *
Third quickest in the opening practice session
of the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series was Amy
Ruman, of Kent, Ohio in the No. 23
McNichols/Goodyear/Cenweld Chevrolet Corvette at
2:04.712 mph
Results
2010
Rumans 2010 season was probably one of
the most successful seasons in her many years of
racing. She ran a combined season of Trans-Am
Series races and GT-1 National races again, and was
very triumphant on both fronts. Amy ran six of the
ten races in the Trans-Am Series schedule;
qualified in the top-10 for all six races, and
finished in the top-5 for all but one of the races
when she suffered a mechanical problem. She
captured three 3rd place podium finishesat
Road America, Toronto, and Autobahn; was 5th at New
Jersey, 8th at VIR (mech), and 4th at Road Atlanta.
For the fourth time in her racing career, Ruman was
the GT-1 Northeast National Points Division
Champion, capturing 3 pole positions out of 6
races, scoring 4 wins and a second place finish at
the famed June Sprints National at Road America,
WI. Amy competed again in the SCCA National
Championship Runoffs held at Road America, where
she had the best finish of her Runoffs career
earning a 3rd place spot on the podium.
2009
With the rebirth of the Trans-Am Series in the 2009
season, Amy made the decision to divide her time
and focus on running select Trans-Am races and
enough GT-1 Nationals to qualify for the SCCA
National Championship Runoffs. She competed in five
Muscle Milk SCCA Trans-Am races. Amy qualified in
the top-10 for all five races, grabbing a 3rd place
and her first podium finish in the series at Road
Atlanta, GA in the season opener. She was 6th at
VIR, 12th at Mid-Ohio (mechanical problems), 4th at
Watkins Glen, and 17th at Road America (motor
problems). She placed 3rd in the GT-1 Northeast
National Points Division, capturing 3 pole
positions out of 5 races, scoring 3 wins and a
second place finish which earned her a spot in at
the 2009 Runoffs. Closing out the season in
October, Amy finished 5th in the SCCA National
Championship Runoffs held at Road America, WI
2008
For the third consecutive year, Amy was crowned
SCCA Northeast National Points Division Champion
for GT-1. Running in eight races, Ruman scored six
pole positions, four wins, two-second places, and
currently holds five track records. In her first
time running at Road America in the famed June
Sprints, she qualified 5th and finished 8th after
breaking a steering control arm during the race.
Finishing the 2008 season off, she ran her sixth
consecutive SCCA National Championship Runoffs.
Ruman qualified 5th but finished a disappointing
14th after encountering a wing problem at Heartland
Park Topeka, KS.
2007
For the second consecutive year, Amy was the SCCA
Northeast National Points Division Champion for
GT-1. She captured seven pole positions out of
seven races, scored five wins, one second place
finish, and currently holds four track records. Amy
won races at NHIS, Nelsons Ledges, BeaveRun, and
Pocono. At Summit Point, she slipped into second
when it started raining, after leading most of the
race. She did not start at Watkins Glen do to car
problems. Ruman ended the season competing in the
SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Hearltand
Park Topeka, KS October 13. She qualified 6th, but
was hit from behind on the 1st lap of the race. The
car sustained significant damage and she was unable
to continue.
2006
Amy was the SCCA Northeast National Points Division
Champion for GT-1. She captured six pole positions,
scored three wins, and posted four new track
records. Amy won races at Summit Point, NHIS, and
Nelsons Ledges. She had two close second place
finishes at Pocono and a third place at Watkins
Glen. She finished 6th at Topeka and fell out of
BeaveRun after breaking an input shaft. Amy scored
her first top-five finish at Topeka in only her
second Trans-Am Series race, finishing 5th. She
will round out the season at the SCCA National
Championship Runoffs to be held at Heartland Park
Topeka in October.
2005
Amy finished second in the SCCA Northeast National
Points Division for the second year in a row,
falling short of being Champion by one point. She
ended the season with a 6th place finish in the
Kohler National Championship Runoffs at Mid-Ohio.
She had busy year running in 12 races, which
included her Trans-Am Series debut at the Cleveland
Grand Prix, where she qualified 8th and finished
10th. She posted two wins - Nelson Ledges and
BeaveRun. She captured five pole positions at
Nelson Ledges, Mid-Ohio, BeaveRun, and two at
Pocono. Amy had three second places, two third
places, and fell out of the Moroso, Mid-Ohio, and
one Pocono race due to mechanical issues.
2004
Amy ran a jam-packed season this year competing in
12 races, which included her second entry in the
Runoffs. She finished second in the Northeast
National Points Division, with eight top five
finishes, which included a win, six-second places,
and a fourth. She ended the season with a 9th place
finish in the Kohler National Runoffs at Mid-Ohio.
During the regular season, Ruman grabbed a win at
Mid-Ohio in June, captured six second places at
Pocono, Pocono, Nelson Ledges, NHIS, Summit Point,
and Moroso; had a 4th at Sebring and a 6th at
Mid-Ohio in August. BeveRun and Watkins Glen were
huge disappointments for Amy this year. She
suffered a major crash in qualifying when another
car spun in the middle of blind turn, blocking the
track. After hitting him nearly head-on, Ruman had
minor injuries with a sprained ankle and bruises.
Three weeks later, the crew repaired the damage and
Ruman was back in the car leading the race at
Watkins Glen, when the motor let go.
2003
Amy switched gears and focused on running in GT-1
this year. She had all top five finishes in GT-1.
In the Super Bowl of club car racing, the National
Valvoline Runoffs at Mid-Ohio, Amy finished 5th in
a very competitive field of GT-1 racers. She ended
the regular season with a 4th place at Mid-Ohio.
Took a 2nd at Watkins Glen, and got her first
official win at Beverun. After qualifying 39th in
the rain and missing the dry qualifying session,
she finished in a inspiring 5th at the Mid-Ohio
national. A controversial disqualification took her
out of 1st at the Nelsons Ledges national.
Switching back to the Spec Racer, she ran the Pro
double at Beverun and took a 4th and a 6th place.
She opened her GT-1 season at Gingerman finishing
in 3rd. Summit Point was the 2003 SRF season opener
where Amy finished 23rd after a mid-race
incident.
2002
This year, Amy expanded her racing to running in
SRF and GT-1. Rounding out the season at the VIR
double Pro weekend, Amy finished 15th (qualified
27th) and 39th after a spin. Switching gears back
to GT-1, Amy qualified 8th and finished in 12th
after contact in a first lap incident. She took a
15th in the Pro Spec Race at Mosport, and had a DNF
after an S2 took her out at NE NHIS national.
Amys season opened at the Florida nationals
for the first time running her Dads Corvette
in GT-1. She qualified an impressive 3rd at Moroso,
but a gearbox problem gave her a DNF. She qualified
4th at Sebring and finished 3rd.
2001
Amy focused running in Pro/National SRF races this
year. Finished up the season with a 5th at Mid-Ohio
national. She took 15th at the Cincinnati Airport
course in Pro Spec Racer. In the double
Pro/National weekend at VIR, Amy captured an
impressive 14th and a 13th after qualifying in 25th
and 27th. She took a 16th and a 29th (after a spin)
at the Spec Racer Pro/National Weekend at Watkins
Glen. At the Pro Mid-Ohio race, she had a 17th
place finish. Amy finished in 7th for her season
opener at the NE national at Nelsons
Ledges.
2000
Amy finished 16th at the San Diego Pro Spec Racer
finale moving up from her qualifying position of
32nd. She finished 7th at the both the WGGT races
in Las Vegas and Texas. At Pocono, Amy finished
10th after qualifying 6th at this SCCA national in
the pouring rain. Qualified 4th, finished 6th in CE
national at Nelson Ledges, also finished 17th in a
CE national at Mid-Ohio, and captured a 5th in the
SRF NE national at Nelson Ledges in OH. She
finished 8th in round two of WGGT at Lowes
Charlotte NC. Amy qualified 3rd in the season
opener of the WGGT Series at Sebring, came back
through the field to finish 6th after spinning and
dropping to last place.
1999
Amy won the 1999 SCCA Mahoning Valley Regional
Championship with six victories in SRF. She also
had 4th and a 6th in the nationals in a SRF at
Nelson Ledges this year. She finished 33rd in Pro
Spec Racer at Sebring, FL and 24th at Grand Rapids,
MI. In the WGGT series, Amy qualified 3rd (second
row) at Portland and finished 9th. At the April
Atlanta WGGT race Amy finished 10th, were she also
had the pole in her qualifying race. She finished
12th at Sears Point, 16th at the Petite Le Mans,
and was involved in a crash at Laguna Seca. At the
season finale in Las Vegas, she qualified 6th and
moved up to 3rd until 5 laps from the finish, her
clutch failed. Amy, along with sister and teammate
Niki Ruman were invited to join the inaugural
season of the Womens Global GT Series - an
invitation only world showcase of top female racing
drivers. After a frustrating season, Amy finished
13th in the WGGT points standings. In January Amy
and Niki were on the only all female team to
compete in the 24 Hours of Moroso in a Spec Racer
Ford; their Spec Racer Ford was involved in a crash
in the 20th hour while running 3rd in class; the
team placed 9th in class and 41st overall.
1998
Amy raced nine national and regional SCCA SRF races
last year. She had three top-ten finishes,
including a podium 3rd place finish. Competed in
her first endurance race at the 24 Hours of Moroso
in January and finished 12th overall and 5th in
class, on a family based team with sister Niki
Ruman and father Bob Ruman along with two other
drivers.
Other Racing Highlights - Invited by Lyn St.
James to drive in the Womens Global GT Series
- Inaugural Season in 1999. Raced SRF regionally in
1997. Started competing in SCCA wheel-to-wheel
events in 1995 in ITA and ITB classes. Began racing
in 1992 in Corvette autocross/solo
competitions.
Schedule
* * *
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