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Press Releases by Amy Ruman
August 10, 2005
After Two Poles at GT-1 Pocono Double National, Ruman Walks
Away with a 2nd
Pocono, PA - The Ruman Racing team was faced with
many ups and downs this past weekend at Pocono International
Raceway's SCCA double national. Amy Ruman was fast all weekend
in the 13 car GT-1 field, but just couldn't quite bring home
a win.
The three-day event started with practice and qualifying
on Friday. It rained Friday afternoon, changing track conditions
a bit. But it dried out by the time Ruman took the track at
6:30 pm for a very late first qualifying session in which
she placed 2nd. During the Saturday morning qualifier, Ruman
put together a great session, qualifying 1st and under the
track record with a 1:28.924. Phil Simms was 2nd with a 1:30.460,
followed by Jack Busch 1:30.725. Saturday afternoon's race
started clean and coming out of turn one it was Ruman, Busch,
Sloe, and Simms. On the back straight, Busch got by Ruman,
as both drivers sprinted away from the pack. Busch lead laps
1-3 and on lap 4, Ruman made a successful pass for the lead
in turn two. On lap 7 Ruman developed a problem on the back
straight and was forced to pull off while in the lead. Her
day was done; the main ignition coil wire arced and burnt
a hole in it and fell off. With many dropouts, the raced finished
with Phil Simms taking 1st, Scott Quaile 2nd,
The team was ready for Sunday's second chance after Saturday's
disappointing race. Ruman again qualified 1st in Sunday morning's
ten-minute qualifying round. Sunday's race shaped up with
Ruman at a 1:29.207, Moyer 1:29.691, Busch 1:30.031, and Simms
with a 1:32.016 at the front of the grid. The start was awesome
and the first two rows were in a four-car slide through turn
one. Moyer had Ruman in to turn one, but Ruman had Moyer coming
out of turn one. Ruman lead the first lap, with Moyer getting
by on lap 2. Close racing continued during laps 2-8 and on
lap 9 Ruman made her move to retake the lead. Ruman then lead
laps 9-11 gaining about a four second lead. On lap 11, Ruman
got behind lapped traffic, went low to pass coming out of
the infield onto the back straight and got into some marbles
and spun the car. Ruman was able to do a 180-degree burnout
to continue just as Moyer passed. With only a few laps to
go, Ruman was not able to catch Moyer and finished 2nd. Busch
took 3rd, Sloe in 4th.
"What a weekend. We had the fastest car there and just
couldn't seal the deal. It was a chance for me to sew up the
Northeast Point Championship and I blew it! I was really upset
at myself when I made that mistake in Sunday's race, but we
all know that sometimes having patience in a racecar can be
challenging. I was happy that I put the McNichols/Cenweld/Safety
Today Corvette on the pole twice this weekend, I was just
sorry I didn't win it for the sponsors and the team,"
stated Ruman. "I am looking forward to the points shoot
out with Trevor (Hopwood) at the Mid-Ohio national in two
weeks."
Next Up - August 20-21: SCCA GT-1 National at Mid-Ohio Sports
Car Course, OH
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