Ruhlman Starting Fourth for Portland Trans-Am,2nd in both practices

Ruhlman Starting Fourth for Trans-Am at Portland International Raceway,
Second in Both Practice Sessions


Portland, Ore (June 19, 2004) -- Top Trans-Am driver Randy Ruhlman will be
starting fourth for today¹s Albertsons Trans-Am 100 at Portland
International Raceway.  Ruhlman originally qualified fifth after a post-race
inspection of the fastest qualifier, Paul Gentilozzi found him with an
illegal wing height. A late night engine change for Gentilozzi¹s teammate,
Tommy Kendall, sent him to the back of the field, moving Ruhlman up one spot
to start on the outside of row Two, again next to former Trans-Am Champion
and 1992 and 1993 Trans-Am teammate Greg Pickett.

 

Ruhlman in the Preformed Line Products/Coyote Closure Chevrolet Corvette
posted the second fastest time in the Saturday morning practice session,
just behind the Jaguar of Paul Gentilozzi.  Ruhlman dropped over a second
from his qualifying time, and and1.7 seconds from the first session, where
he was second to pole sitter Tomy Drissi.

 

After the practice session Ruhlman, the 2002 BBS Wheel Most Improved Driver
of the Year says he is in ³great shape for the race².  ³This track is
notorious for its first lap problems, so if the first row guys can make it
through without any craziness, Greg and I should be OK.  I think we all know
that you need to make the first corner to win the race.  And I am lucky to
have one of the cleanest and best drivers around in Greg [Pickett] next to
me. Both Greg and I are good at working the race and being there at the end,
so it will be fun out there today.  I am looking forward to this race,²
continues Ruhlman.

 

         After qualifying Ruhlman said, ³The testing we did has definitely
helped settle the car down.  Also since getting the Hewland transmission
that is something I now don¹t have to think about. Our car is set up to
really be at its prime at the end of the race, so I am going to do
everything I can to be in position to be there for the podium here,²
concludes Ruhlman.

 

The Albertsons Trans-Am 100 at Portland International Raceway
is scheduled for 51 laps or 75 minutes on the 1.969-mile permanent road
course.  Start time is 3:45 PDT with delayed television coverage on HDTV
network at 11AM PDT on Sunday, June 20th.  A 30 minute show, ³Dangerous
Curves² on Spike TV, will feature race highlights and is scheduled for a
Sunday June 27th afternoon broadcast.

 

Randy Ruhlman finished sixth overall in the Driver¹s Championship in 2003
and was seventh overall in 2002 with a second (and a 3rd in 2003) at Trois
Rivieres and third at Miami.  He was named the 2002 ³BBS Wheels Most
Improved Driver of the Year and Randy Ruhlman is sixth overall in Top Ten
finishes in Trans-Am history.

 

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.

 

Preformed Line Products (PLP) is an international manufacturer and supplier
of hardware and support systems for the communications and energy
industries.  Products include the COYOTE Closure and GUY-GRIP Dead-End used
in the telecommunications, cable and energy industries. Manufacturing
facilities are located worldwide in the USA, Canada, China, Brazil, Mexico,
England, Spain, South Africa, Australia and Japan.

 

 

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CONTACT:

Cristi Brumm Ruhlman

336-210-0980


marketing@ruhlmanmotorsports.com

www.ruhlmanmotorsports.com <http://www.ruhlmanmotorsports.com/>