Amy Ruman delivers for her Dad on Father’s Day at IMS

Qualifying was over and # 23 Amy Ruman found herself back in 7th, a full two seconds off the pole set by nemesis Paul Fix in a Mustang.  Per Ruman, “We weren’t in the groove.  Our setup was terrible.” 

A double yellow soon came out so her strategist dad Bob called her in.  The pit stop put her last but there was still time to race and the adjustments proved a whopping three seconds advantage, passing cars on the track plus those that dropped out.  She rose to second place as the checker flag flew….but no chance catching Ernie Francis Jr (see below).

# 59 Simon Gregg finished a credible 7th. 

Local Hoosier # 04 Aaron Pierce and teammate # 02 Larry Bailey driving for Pierce Chevrolet have room to improve against a bevy of 9 Porsches and BMWs that finished ahead in TA3.   

Also room for # 99 Larry Lapurage behind Mustangs and Camaros for 8th in TA.  # 88 Tim Adolphson from out west in Washington state was a DNS.

As for the winner, Ernie Francis Jr, the clock had struck 3AM before arriving at IMS from a NASCAR K&N East race at NJMP.   He missed qualifying, started at the back but sliced through the field and cruised to the win.  Shades of 2017.  

Photos thanks to Larry VanScoy @LarryVan Scoy, Chris Clark @cclarkphoto and Dennis Gray, dennisgray711@me.com

Results compiled by Wayne Ellwood

Next TA, TA3, TA4 race Aug 3-5 at Pgh Intnl Race Complex in Wampum PA