TRANS-AM SERIES DRIVER RUHLMAN RACES ON AND OFF THE TRACK =?ISO-8859-1?B?iw==?=IN SUPPORT OF THE LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TRANS-AM SERIES DRIVER RUHLMAN RACES ON AND OFF THE TRACK IN SUPPORT OF THE LANCE ARMSTRONG FOUNDATION Greensboro, NC (Oct 14, 2004)--When Randy Ruhlman is away from the racetrack, where he earns his living as a professional driver, he often trades in his need for speed for a passion for pedaling. And now he is using that passion in support of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. The Lance Armstrong Foundation, which focuses its activities on cancer survivorship, education, and resources, believes that in battling cancer, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. Ruhlman believes strongly in the Foundation and will continue to help focus awareness on its cause, both on and off the track. Just as he did during the 2004 season, Ruhlman will be continuing his support of the Lance Armstrong Foundation by giving his time and energy during the upcoming year. Last year, Randy Ruhlman helped out the cause, doing everything from the Tour de Road America, where he went straight from the podium to the bike, joining fellow drivers from Trans-Am and ChampCar in the charity ride to giving out Live Strong yellow wristbands at the track. For the 2005 season, Ruhlman hopes to step up that participation with a more visible presence and further involvement with the Volunteer and Peleton Programs. Ruhlman, who finished third overall in the 2004 Trans-Am Series Driverıs Championship in a Corvette, carried the Lance Armstrong Foundation logo on his car for the later part of the season and plans to keep it there throughout the 2005 season. ³This is something I feel very strongly about. I have always felt that we have something to give back to the people who support us, and I am very pleased to be associated with such a tremendously valuable cause. The fact that I love to bike and many of the events are bike oriented is an added plus for me,² says Ruhlman. Ruhlman drives the #49 Preformed Line Products/Coyote Closure Chevrolet Corvette in the Motorock Trans Am Series for Derhaag Motorsports and is an avid bicyclist, road bikes and mountain bikes. Well, not just avid, some might say heıs a bit obsessive. Thatıs because when he goes for a ride, itıs not a stroll through the park. Itıs a rigorous 30 to 50 miles over the North Carolina roads and trails. Itıs part stimulation, part mental relaxation, and part recreation; mostly, itıs a workout that keeps him in top shape for the demanding Trans-Am road racing series. ³I started mountain biking to get in shape and I wound up getting hooked on it,² said Ruhlman, who was born in Cleveland, graduated from Stanford University and now lives in Greensboro, N.C. ³When I get on my bike itıs an instant rush. It clears my head and gives me a new perspective on things. At the same time, it helps me stay mentally sharp for racing because things like setting up for corners and hitting the right apex in the turns is the same on the bike as it is in the car,² comments Ruhlman. Along with exceptional driving ability, Ruhlman is one of the fittest driverıs on the circuit and first-rate bicyclist. Having spent much of his life in California, Ruhlman is an accomplished mountain and road biker. ³I am always excited to be able to bring my bike to a great track and to help out a charity. In the past (when we had our own team), I was able to bring my bike with me all of the time. I would try to hit the trails when we were in California between races. I have even taken my mountain bike to Maui and biked on the back slopes of Haleakala. But now that we are living in North Carolina, I have really gotten into road cycling. I think that if I didnıt race cars for a living, I would have loved to try my hand at bike racing," says Ruhlman. Ruhlman took third in the 2004 Trans-Am Series Drivers Championship after a hotly contested battle for the Championship. The 2004 season saw past Champions Paul Gentilozzi, Tommy Kendall, and Ruhlman fight it out for the Driverıs Championship in the closest points battle ever in Trans-Am history. Ruhlman was consistently fast in his #49 Preformed Line Products/ Coyote Closure Corvette this year, having scored seven straight, top five finishes, including three podiums: a second at Road America, another second at Toronto, and a third at Infineon. Additionally, Ruhlman was the pole sitter for the Road America race. Randy Ruhlman is fifth overall in Top Ten finishes in Trans-Am history. He finished sixth overall in 2003 in the Driverıs Championship in a Derhaag Motorsports Corvette. Ruhlman was seventh overall in 2002 while driving for Tom Gloy Racing, with a second (and a 3rd in 2003) at Trois Rivieres and third at Miami. Ruhlman was awarded the 2002 BBS Wheels "Most Improved Driver of the Year". Ruhlman's Chevrolet Corvette is fielded by the Minneapolis-based Derhaag Motorsports, led by former Trans-Am driver Jim Derhaag. Derhaag himself made 150 starts as a driver in the Trans-Am Series before his successful move to full time ownership in 1998. The Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF) believes that in your battle with cancer, knowledge is power and attitude is everything. From the moment of diagnosis we provide the practical information and tools you need to live strong. The LAF focuses its activities on public health initiatives, national advocacy, research, and survivorship education and resources, including Live Strong, the LAF's comprehensive resource for cancer survivors. The LAF was founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong and is located in Austin, Texas. 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. Photos and logos available upon request # # # Contact: Cristi Brumm 336-210-0980 marketing@ruhlmanmotorsports.com http://www.ruhlmanmotorsports.com