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LATEST SNIPPET
Trans-Am Drivers Amy Ruman, Tony Ave Honored As
All Americans By the AARWBA
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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
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 AARWBA’s 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 team’s
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.
Ruman’s 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
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
Ruman’s 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 finishes–at
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 Nelson’s 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.
Amy’s season opened at the Florida nationals
for the first time running her Dad’s 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 Nelson’s
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 Lowe’s
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 Women’s 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 Women’s 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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