Ruman leads second practice, Stretch heads up TA2

Amy Ruman led the Trans Am Series during the second practice session of the season at Sebring International Raceway.   Ruman and the #23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette put in the fastest time of the session with a 2:03.788, edging out competition from the likes of John Baucom and Simon Gregg. 

 

2013 was a disappointing season for Ruman, as she was plagued by a streak of bad luck.  Now, in a new season Ruman is considered one of the frontrunners in the TA class, and rightfully so.  She improved on her time from the morning session, a 2:07.345,  and while Doug Peterson, in the #87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette, had a faster time in the earlier session, Ruman finds herself well positioned going into Saturday’s qualifying session.  

 

John Baucom, in the #86 Roadracepart.com/Baucom Motorsports Ford Mustang,  was close behind in the session with a time of 2:04.342.  Simon Gregg, in the Derhaag Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette, was third with a time of 2:04.863 despite only completing three laps over the duration of the session. 

 

Bob Stretch, in the #98 FixRim Mobile Wheel Repair Chevrolet Camaro, led all TA2 competitors in the session with a 2:12.052—putting the 2011 and 2012 champ on top.  He was followed by Cameron Lawrence, in the #1 Miller Racing Chevrolet Camaro, who put in a 2:13.080, slightly off pace from his time of 2:11.649 earlier in the day. 

 

Tom West, in the #56 Limerick Machine/ Treelaine Consulting Chevrolet Camaro, showed off his constancy coming in third once again, as he had in the morning session, with a time of 2:13.437. 

 

In the TA3 American Muscle Group Ernie Francis, Jr.  led the way in the #9 Breathless Performance Chevrolet Camaro with a time of 2:15.982, beating out the 2:16.769 of Dean Martin, driving the #52 Rehagen Racing Ford Mustang and Steve Kent, Jr.  in the #17 XLR8Diesel Trucks/ SKS Equipment Ford Mustang. 

 

Lee Saunders, making his first ever Trans Am appearance, led all of the TA3 International Group in the #84 Landsearch LLC Dodge Viper with a time of 2:15.878.  He was followed by Tim Gray in the #60 Ryan Companies US Inc Porsche GT-3, with a time of 2:18.837, and Mark Klenin, also making his first Trans Am appearance, in the #62 Breathless Performance Aston Martin GT4, whose time of 2:19.263 rounded out the top three.

 

In total 25 of the entrants in this weekend’s Trans Am race, The Earwood Classic, are rookies to the Trans Am Series.

 

Trans Am will take to the track again tomorrow, Saturday March 1, 2014, for qualifying at 11:50 a.m. EST in preparation for the 100.98 mile Trans Am race at 2:35 p.m. on Sunday, March 2nd. 

 

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