Strategy and Good fortune pay off for Amy Ruman at the Charlotte Speed Tour

The ROVAL is a road course using parts of the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval that can be punishing on cars and drivers.

The outcome hinged on how the lower profile 18-inch Pirelli tires introduced this year would hold up. 

The faster cars had to stop for fresh tires; or worse, some never made it to the finish.

While Amy Ruman # 23 C7 Corvette stayed out for all 45 laps, taking over the lead mid-race and winding up 3rd.

 “We opted to conserve our tires, happy to be on the podium and glad I wasn’t part of the attrition.”

Ryan McManus in his # 07 C5 Corvette “warhorse” finished a lap down in 4th place.

Pole-sitter ex NASCAR driver Paul Menard had to stop, stormed back to pass Amy Ruman with 6 laps to go and diced with Tomy Drissi, both on fresher rubber for the win.

Just eight TA cars started at the ROVAL but bigger fields are coming on March 25-27 at Road Atlanta.

A pair of young guns out-raced a 30-car TA2 field with the # 77 Camaro of Tyler Kicera edging # 28 Camaro of Connor Mossack at the finish.

Our thanks to Chris Clark for the great photos.