Ruman Takes Home 3rd at Sebring Trans Am Opener
February 29, 2024
Munroe Falls, Ohio – The Trans Am Championship Presented by Pirelli held it’s 2024 season opener this past weekend at Sebring International Raceway. It was picture-perfect weather for the action-packed weekend with record setting fans in attendance.
The opening roster saw a deep field of past Trans Am Champions, NASCAR veterans, and a few new TA competitors. Ruman qualified the No. 23 McNichols Chevrolet Corvette seventh on the grid for Sunday’s race.
As the race began, lap one, turn one proved to be detrimental to the pole sitter Ernie Francis Jr. when he tangled with Chris Dyson in third sending Jr. into the wall and Dyson out with heavy damage and Paul Menard (1st) took over the lead. Ruman had a good start and moved into fourth. After the restart, she dropped a few spots but had great battles with Wally Dallenbach Jr. (2nd), Tomy Drissi (4th), and Keith Grant (5th) throughout the race. After a late race caution, the field bunched up with ten laps to go. The top five raced to the checkered with Ruman (3rd) catching Grant and Drissi. A last lap pass on Drissi for third place put her on the podium.
“Wow what an exciting race today,” said third-place finisher Amy Ruman. “We started off strong early in the race, faded a bit in the middle, and then came on strong again in the end. Everyone was struggling with tire wear at the end, but we had enough left to make some good passes to get us to the podium. Want to thank my team and wish my Dad a Happy Birthday, this is for him!”
After Round 1, Paul Menard leads TA National class championship with 109 points, followed by Wally Dallenbach Jr. in second – 98, Amy Ruman in third – 93, Tomy Drissi is fourth – 88, and Keith Grant sits in fifth – with 85 points. The Series heads to Road Atlanta, GA, March 21st-24th.
The broadcast of this past weekend's events at Sebring Int’l
will be broadcast on Thursday, February 29, 2024 on MAVTV:
8:00 pm EDT: CUBE 3 Architecture TA2® Series Race
9:00 pm EDT: TA/XGT/SGT/GT Race
10:00 pm EDT: Docuseries, Road to Glory
