On This Day in Trans Am History: April 12, 2015
April 12, 2021
April 12, 2015
Amy Ruman finished the 2014 season with a victory at Daytona, finishing third in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli championship battle.
After winning the 2015 season opener at Sebring in the No. 23 McNichols Company Corvette, Ruman came to Homestead-Miami Speedway and showed the form that would take her to the first of two-consecutive Trans Am titles. Ruman finished the year with eight victories and the elusive championship.
R.J. Lopez captured the pole in the No. 17 Optica Lopez Corvette and dominated the early stages of the race, only to cut a tire on the 21st lap and finish 34th.
Ruman, who started third, took over at that point and took the checkered flag 2.445-seconds ahead of Cliff Ebben in the No. 36 Stumpf Ford/McMahon Group Ford Mustang. Paul Fix rounded out the podium in Tony Ave’s No. 4 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com Corvette.
Simon Gregg qualified second in the No. 59 Corvette, but was slowed by overheating issues early in the race and finished ninth.
John Baucom had a solid run in the No. 86 RoadRaceParts.com Mustang. He chased Ruman late in the race, only to lose oil pressure and finished fourth.
Thomas Ellis paced the TA3 American Muscle Group, winning his first race in a Ford Mustang.
Steve Streimer led the TA3 International competitors, beating fellow Dodge Viper driver and eventual champion Lee Saunders.
On the first anniversary of his victory in the first standalone TA2® race, defending champion Cameron Lawrence made it two-in-a-row at Homestead in the Trans Am Muscle Car Challenge.
Driving the No. 1 MOPAR Dodge Challenger, Lawrence led the 29 entries in qualifying and dominated the race. It was the second-consecutive victory for the defending TA2® champ, and the 18th of his career.
Dillon Machavern finished second, 3.302-seconds back in the No. 24 UniFirst/PPG Ford Mustang, followed by Adam Andretti in the No. 44 Engineered Components Company Chevrolet Camaro.
Read more about Trans Am history here: https://gotransam.com/about/Our-History/59342
