RUHLMAN HOLDS ON TO FINISH EIGHTH AT PUERTO RICO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 

RUHLMAN HOLDS ON TO FINISH EIGHTH AT PUERTO RICO, ENDS YEAR IN SIXTH OVERALL
IN DRIVER¹S CHAMPIONSHIP

 

San Juan, Puerto Rico (Oct 26)  -- The 2002 Trans-Am Series¹ ³Most Improved
Driver of the Year² Randy Ruhlman held on today to finish eighth in the
action-packed finale of the 2003 Motorock Trans-Am Tour for the BFGoodrich
Tires® Cup. Ruhlman¹s eighth place finish was enough to boost him in points
to sixth overall in the final 2003 Driver¹s Championship.

 

Ruhlman was moved up to fourth for the start of the scheduled 63-lap race,
after Rookie of the Year Jorge Diaz Jr.¹s qualifying time was disallowed.
Concerns about heat and tire wear were left by the wayside as the race got
underway and Ruhlman maintained a front running position.  He got hit from
behind and spun on lap three, and then at the midway point suffered another
severe hit.  Ruhlman was forced to come through traffic twice, but he had to
overcome an even more serious problem, an engine that was working on just
seven cylinders.  

  

³We actually had a really great car. We conquered some of our initial
problems with the handling, and had put together a winning car.  Once the
race got going and we were in fourth and fifth, I was hit early on by John
Baucom, but I wasn¹t worried.  I knew I had the car to make it back to the
front, and I honestly think we had a shot at the win, even with the hit,²
continued Ruhlman. 

 

³I made some good passes on people and had gotten about half way back up the
field, before I suddenly had no power. One corner it was there and the next
it was slow.  We broke a rocker in the engine.  Even with great corner
speed, I was on seven cylinders, and I just could not get past these guys.
They had about 100 horsepower on me, and that is an incredible amount to
give away on every corner.  To finish as high as eighth was good, but still
very frustrating,² said Ruhlman.

 

         ³I do think we have shown we have what it takes this year, with the
fourth at Mosport and the third at Trois Rivieres. I am pleased that even
after the difficult start to our season, we were able to steadily move up in
the points to sixth overall.  It would have been great to take the win here,
and we thought we were a serious contender for it.  Unfortunately, even with
all of the yellow flag laps, it was just not going to happen today without
all eight cylinders.

 

          ³This race was the inaugural Grand Prix of Puerto Rico and it was
a really fantastic venue.  The fans were so excited and cheered and stood
the whole time.  The Trans-Am series and drivers put on a show that was
outstanding.  This was a premier event and I am looking forward to racing
here next year,² remarks Randy Ruhlman.

 

Preformed Line Products (PLP) is an international manufacturer and supplier
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Ruhlman's Chevrolet Corvette is fielded this year by the Minneapolis-based,
Derhaag Motorsports team, led by former Trans-Am driver Jim Derhaag.  Jim
Derhaag himself made 150 starts as a driver in the Trans-Am Series before
his successful move to full time ownership in 1998.  The team has fielded
many successful drivers, including top Trans-Am drivers Justin Bell, Kenny
Wilden, Tony Ave, Dorsey Schroeder, Chris Neville and Darin Brassfield.

 

 

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