Amy Ruman Sidelined for Start of 2026 Trans Am Season
February 20, 2026
Munroe Falls, Ohio – As the 2026 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli Championship prepares to open March 1 at Sebring International Raceway, a familiar presence in the TA field will be notably absent. After missing the 2025 season finale at Circuit of the Americas in November, Amy Ruman—a Trans Am Hall of Famer and two-time series champion—will also miss the season opener for the first time in her Trans Am career.
Ruman was involved in an off-track accident in late October that resulted in a complex fracture to her right ankle, tibia, and fibula. She underwent two successful surgeries and required extensive titanium hardware placement. Her recovery is progressing but is a slow and steady process that will take time.
“I was disappointed for the team and our sponsors not to be able to finish out the season at COTA, and unfortunately I’m still sidelined,” said Ruman. “This was a significant injury that takes time to heal. Thankfully, I have an outstanding medical team, the surgeries were successful, and the fractures are healing well. The two-month post-surgery non-weight-bearing phase is now behind me, and I’m actively working through physical therapy. We’re focused on restoring mobility and strength in the ankle while managing swelling and discomfort.”
She added, “It’s tough not being able to compete full season for a third Trans Am Championship, but I’m determined to work my way back and return to the cockpit of the red No. 23 Corvette this season.”
As the Trans Am Series prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary season (1966–2026), Ruman Racing proudly marks three decades as a fixture in the paddock—a legacy that began when veteran driver Bob Ruman took his first TA green flag at the 1996 St. Petersburg Grand Prix. Bob campaigned the No. 23 until 2004, when he passed the “keys” to his daughter, Amy, who made her debut at the 2005 Cleveland Grand Prix.
2025 Barber Motorsports Park Recap – Ruman delivered a strong fourth-place finish in the No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette in challenging weather conditions at Barber in early October. After heavy rain overnight and into the morning, teams faced a critical tire decision before heading to the grid. With persistent cloud cover preventing the track from drying, the team elected to start on rain tires.
The grid featured mixed strategies, with several competitors switching tires as light rain returned just before the start. When the green flag dropped, Ruman executed a calculated opening lap, passing Dyson and Drissi—both of whom had started on slick tires. She steadily closed the gap to third-place runner Pintaric in the closing laps but ran out of time before the checkered flag.
“This was a solid result for us in wet conditions, and I’m pleased with my run,” Ruman said. “Starting on wets was absolutely the right call, as the track didn’t begin drying until the final laps. With six laps to go, I began seeing battery voltage warnings—we later discovered the alternator belt had broken. We were fortunate the battery held on through the finish.”
The team concluded its shortened 2025 campaign in Round 11 at Barber Motorsports Park, ultimately securing fifth overall in the TA-class championship standings.
