Amy Ruman storms to win the 2015 TA Championship at Daytona
Nothing stopped Amy Ruman # 23 on the way to her 8th season win and the 2015 TA championship. With a nearly insurmountable points lead over Paul Fix # 4, just one lap would clinch the deal. But in true form she powered to victory past Doug Peterson # 87 becoming the first woman on record to win a major road racing series championship.
In accepting the award, Amy Ruman gave thanks for support from her racing family over the years and to her crew anchored by Mike Edmunds who was there from the start.
As at CoTA, Fix started from pole and posted a record fast lap of 1:45.637 but was again out of contention in a scuffle with Doug Peterson on a re-start following a caution.
Kerry Hitt # 19 posted a season-high 4th place in his ACP Caddy re-bodied Corvette. Simon Gregg # 59 who partners with Derhaag Motorsports rounded out the top 5.
The Registry of Corvette Race Cars website offer viewers a look at photos of virtually all the Trans Am Corvettes we follow during the season. We are truly grateful to Chris Clark, Larry Van Scoy, John Avery and other photographers.
Above is some eye-candy of local racers that entered in the finale. # 13 Daniel Urrutia,# 26 Rafael Barcenas and # 35 Mario Barcenas.
And an eye-popping crash where John Gutleber # 89 TA3i lost it in practice. (John is OK by all accounts).
The Trans Am series has re-emerged over the last 5 years from infighting, disorganization, low entries, sparse crowds and vanishing sponsorships, thanks to the leadership of President John Claggett and his team. The new attitude was very much evident at the awards ceremonies held the following day after a lavish brunch at the Hilton Daytona Beach Resort.
2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the Trans Am Series - SCCA’S first foray into pro racing. From 1966 to 1972 it was a hotbed for rivals backed by Cheve, Ford, Chrysler and AMC in “Pony Cars” that delighted the crowds, cheating and beating their way to “Win on Sunday, sell on Monday”.
