RACE: Ruman Racing Mid-Ohio National race report

Amy Ruman Scores a Win and Sets Record at Mid-Ohio SCCA GT-1 National

Munroe Falls, OH -- Amy Ruman captured her first win of the season at the SCCA GT-1 National Race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this past weekend.

After two wet qualifying sessions on Saturday, Ruman qualified the #23 McNichols Co./Goodyear/Cenweld Chevrolet Corvette in 3rd position in class, and 6th overall on the grid. Fortunately, the weather turned around and it was sunny and 80 degrees on Sunday for the 19 lap -- 45.6 mile race.

Although Ruman started further back in the field than she had hoped, her sights were set on moving to the front quickly, and that she did. By turn seven on lap one, she was in 2nd place behind the pole sitter Ryan McManus. The two were nose to tail the first lap. On lap two she had a good run coming out of the key hole, which set her up for a pass on McManus at the end of the straightaway heading into turn seven. McManus settled in behind her and the two continued to run close together. On lap seven, McManus passed Ruman into turn seven but was a bit hot and Ruman immediately passed him back coming out of the turn going up the hill. The two worked through the traffic and their positions did not change for the remainder of the race as Ruman led laps 2-19 and took the checkered flag in first place with McManus finishing in 2nd and Dick Greer in 3rd. Ruman also locked in the fastest race lap at a 1:26.640, setting a new GT-1 track record at Mid-Ohio.

"I am really glad the #23 machine came out on top this weekend! I was disappointed after qualifying, but I knew it was the race that would count," commented Ruman. "The team got the new 358 motor running well and the car felt good. Ryan (McManus) and I had a great race going, and I knew he would be tough to beat."

The team will be fielding two cars in the upcoming SCCA National race this weekend at home town track Nelson's Ledges Road Course, OH. Niki Ruman will be running in her first race of the season in Spec Racer and Amy will be running in GT-1.

-source: www.rumanracing.com