Munroe Falls, Ohio – Unfortunately, the winning streak came to an end this weekend at Lime Rock Park for Amy Ruman, but not her podium streak. After an early race incident, Ruman drove an impressive comeback run from dead last to take 3rd in Saturday’s 3-Dimensional Services Next Dimension 100, Round 4 of the Trans Am Championship.
In another extremely close and exciting “Fast Five” qualifying on Friday, Ruman was edged out of the pole position by Paul Fix posting a time of 50.340, Doug Peterson grabbed second with a time of 50.643 and Ruman’s No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette and current points leader, secured third position with a time of 50.649.
The race day was picture perfect and Ruman was ready for the task at hand, but when the green flag flew and the field screamed into the turn 1 braking zone, Ruman was hit from behind and turned around. Fortunately, the rest of the TA field avoided hitting her as she faced the wrong direction. Despite heavy rear-end damage, Ruman quickly got the car turned around and back on the move, but she had dropped to last place on the first lap of the 67 lap race.
Ruman was on a mission to get back to the front, and boy did she make it evident, charging back to 4th by lap 20 and then gaining 3rd a little later. A late race caution came out allowing the field to bunch up. Five lapped cars were between Ruman and the leaders Fix and Ebben. On the restart, with 9 laps to go, Ruman launched past all five of the lapped cars on the front straight! Ruman ran the remaining laps nose to tail behind Ebben (in 2nd) and Fix (in 1st), but was not able to advance any further.
“Basically, I got drilled in the first corner of the first lap and was practically taken out of the race,” said Ruman. “We fought back hard and focused lap after lap on trying to pick everyone off, but I used up my tires trying to catch those guys. I had a little bit for them at the end, but there just weren’t enough laps. We proved ourselves, made our way back to the podium and got enough points to maintain the series lead.”
Despite the early race turmoil, Ruman had a very strong run again and with her spectacular five car pass at the end of the race, she won the “Cool Move of the Race Award” presented by Cool Shirt Systems.
The team is ready for the next round at New Jersey Motorsports Park on June 14th. “We are off to New Jersey next, and I have won both races the series has held there, so hopefully we will get another win and get back on a streak again,” remarked Ruman.
Ruman currently maintains the lead in Championship points standings with a total of 128, Fix is second with 116, and Ebben moves back into third with a total of 96. The 3Dimensional Services Next Dimension 100 at Lime Rock Park will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network on Saturday, June 6, 12:00 PM, and the TA2 3Dimensional Services Muscle Car Challenge will air on Saturday, June 13, 12:00 PM EDT.