RACE: Amy Ruman June Sprints event summary

Amy Ruman Takes Second Step on Podium at June Sprints GT-1 National at Road America

Munroe Falls, OH -- Another dominant race ended with Amy Ruman standing on the podium for the second weekend in a row at Road America in Elkhart Lake, WI. Ruman drove the #23 McNichols Co./Goodyear/Cenweld Chevrolet GT-1 Corvette to the finish line taking 2nd place in only her third appearance in 55th annual running of the famed Chicago Region SCCA WeatherTech June Sprints race this past weekend.

Ruman was quickest in Friday's practice session, but qualified 2nd on Saturday to Cliff Ebben who took the pole for Sunday's race. Sunday morning's second qualifier was washed out.

The June Sprints is the second largest SCCA National event each year and 16 GT-1 entrants took to the track for the 15-lap race on the 4-mile Road America circuit. Sunday morning's weather was sketchy and it rained off and on all morning long, but as the GT-1 cars took to the track for the race at 3:00 ET the sun was shining.

Ebben, Ruman, Harrington, Rich, and Giles rounded out the top 5 slots for the start of the race. Ebben and Ruman came to the green with Ebben winning the drag race into turn one. Ebben sprinted to an early lead, with Ruman keeping him in her sights. Ruman closed the gap to 1.9 seconds on the final lap of the race. Positions did not change for the two, as Ebben went flag to flag in 1st and Ruman did the same in 2nd.

"I wanted to win this race so badly" said Ruman "but Cliff (Ebben) is so tough to beat here. Road America is his home track and I bet he has run about a million and one miles here!" laughed Ruman. "I was a bit disappointed that he sprinted out to a lead on me, but I started reeling him in at the middle/end of the race. I needed a few more laps like we had in the longer Trans-Am race, then I think I might have had him. I can't complain though, we have had two podiums in two race weekends here so I will be happy with that."

-source: www.rumanracing.com