Ruman capitalizes on second chance to qualify
June 13, 2015
Lewis, Ruman and Allegretta lead second practice session at New Jersey
MILLVILLE, NJ. (Saturday 13, 2015) – Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, took full advantage of Trans Am’s “Fast Five” and “Second Chance” qualifying format at New Jersey Motorsports Park.
Ruman, the current TA class points leader, was forced to sit on the sidelines for qualifying after dealing with mechanical issues with the No. 23. With the “Fast Five” drivers secure in their top five positions, Ruman secured as much ground as possible, turning a 1:17.147 on only her second lap. The time will see her begin tomorrow’s race in sixth position, moving up four spots on the grid.
Ruman was joined in second chance qualifying by Kevin Poitras, in the No. 52 PostPlastics Ford Mustang, and Kurt Roehrig, in the No. 04 PD for Life Chevrolet Camaro. Poitras turned a fast lap of 1:22.690 moving him up from dead last on the grid to eleventh position in the 22-car field. Kurt Roehrig turned a 1:26.728, moving up two spots, and will start nineteenth.
Before the second chance to qualify, drivers from all classes closed out the day at New Jersey Motorsports Park with a series of final practice sessions in preparation for tomorrow’s races, the MPT Twelve Lubricant & Penetrant 100, featuring TA2, and the MPT Fuel Systems Cleanse 100, featuring TA and TA3.
TA2 took to the track first as Shane Lewis, in the No. 72 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, set the pace for the field with a lap time of 1:22.153 in the New Jersey heat, with the No. 72 in fine form for tomorrow’s race.
Dillon Machavern, in the No. 24 UniFirst/ PPG Ford Mustang, followed suit with a 1:22.673, good enough for second in the session. Third fastest was Tony Buffomante, showing fine form with a 1:22.673 from behind the wheel of the No. 34 BestLine Superior Lubricants Ford Mustang.
Gar Robinson, in the No. 74 74 Ranch Resort Chevrolet Camaro, was fourth in the session with a 1:22.803; while defending Champion Cameron Lawrence, in the No. 1 MOPAR Dodge Challenger, was fifth with a time of 1:22.834.
Amy Ruman, in the No. 23 McNichols Company Chevrolet Corvette, also led the TA and TA3 classes out on course for practice as she dialed in No. 23 for the aforementioned second chance to qualify with a time of 1:18.225. Ruman was followed in the practice session by the man who will start on pole tomorrow, Paul Fix, driver of the No. 4 StopFlex.com/TheCarCoach.com Chevrolet Corvette, who turned a time of 1:19.175.
David Pintaric, in the No. 57 Kryderacing Chevrolet Corvette, was third in the session with a best time of 1:20.232; while Claudio Burtin, in the No. 7 Foametix Chevrolet Corvette, and John Baucom, in the No. 86 Baucom Motorsports/RoadRaceparts.com Ford Mustang, filled out the top five with times of 1:21.636 and 1:21.883.
Several TA3 competitors elected to participate in the practice session as well with Vincent Allegretta, in the No. 02 Ratchet Head Racing/Turner/KW BMW M3, leading the way for the class and the International Group, the result of a 1:29.086 lap time. Joe Aquilante, in the No. 32 Phoenix/ Hawk Chevrolet Corvette, was second fastest in the session with a time of 1:29.236; while Todd Napieralski, in the No. 39 Tremec/SKF/Backstreet Chevrolet Camaro, was third with a 1:29.343 lap.
Defending International Group Champion Jason Berkeley, in the No. 67 BMG Management Chevrolet Corvette, and Tim Rubright, in the No. 77 BlueKnobAuto.com Ford Mustang, were fourth and fifth in the TA3 class with times of 1:29.385 and 1:33.242, respectively.
Both Trans Am races will take place tomorrow, Sunday June 14, with the MPT Twelve Lubricant & Penetrant 100, featuring TA2, at 11:50 a.m. and the MPT Fuel Systems Full Cleanse 100, featuring TA and TA3, at 3:10 p.m., with both races constituting Round 5 of the 2015 Trans Am Championship.
