Ruck Racing History

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2024

In our 25th year we started out at PittRace. We ran the car exactly as it left the tech shed at the Runoffs last year. After a few minor issues we took 2nd and 1st at a track where we are at a disadvantage to the Miatas. At the next event we ran at Mid Ohio but with our new cams installed in the second engine. We immediately had issues destroying spark plugs and could not race. After thinking we found the problem, we ran a test evening and had the exact same problem on the first lap. Finally, we found the problem and ran the car at a regional race at Mid Ohio where the car ran great and we won both days. We took her to Grattan for our final qualifying event and she ran well again. We won the Saturday race but we decided not to do the Sunday race in pouring rain.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2023

In our twenty fourth year we started really feeling the pinch of a busy life on us. Kevin's kids were starting to demand more of his and my time, and my other grandkids did the same to me. So, we did what we could. We ran a simple schedule to get qualified - PittRace, Mid Ohio, and Grattan. We both wanted to go to Watkins but Kevin's 5-year-old daughter had her first dance recital that Saturday, so we both had to go, and wanted to go. We didn't do much to the car except tune the engine to run on 93 octane to make the races simpler and cheaper. It seemed to work well, and actually gave us a couple more horsepower. At our first weekend we had an issue with damaged spark plugs due to having the wrong tune in the car so we put in 100 octane and it ran fine. We finished 2nd and 3rd, but that is where we should finish at a track like Pitt. Our second race weekend at Mid Ohio we won both days, and our third weekend at Grattan we won both days as well, but the car was not particularly fast. Before the Runoffs we found that our leakdown was poor, most likely from the damaged spark plugs. We replaced all the valves to get our compression back, but could not get the car tuned because our tuner was not available, so we took it as it was. We only qualified 4th but Kevin jumped into the lead quickly and stayed out in front until and idiot ran off the track causing a full course yellow. Once the two faster cars got behind us, we could not keep them from drafting around us on the straight. All in all, 4 wins, a second and two thirds is not a bad year. The only bad part was leading the majority of the Runoffs, AGAIN, and not winning it.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2022

In our twenty third year we knew we finally had two reasonably powerful and pretty reliable engines. We also had installed new Motion Control Systems triple adjustable shock absorbers, and new Exhaust gas temperature and infra-red tire temperature sensors. In our first race of the season at VIR we started second but had the front left half shaft break in the 4th lap. The Sunday race was much better as Kevin ran away from an excellent field to win by 19 seconds and break the track record by a whole second. Our second weekend was at Pittrace where we should not be winning, because the track layout favors the Miatas, but we won both days against very good competition. Next at Mid Ohio, we won on Saturday and took second on Sunday due to the car exhibiting some mysterious looseness in the rear. We also ran and won two regional races at Mid Ohio just to test the car. After finally finding the cause of the looseness we started the runoffs in 8th place. Kevin lead laps 7 through 14 but experienced power loss in the last half of the race due to a minor mechanical issue. He was passed by a very fast Miata in the last turn to finish 2nd. All in all, 6 wins, 2 seconds, and one DNF is not a bad year.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2021

In our twenty second year we concentrated on the reliability of the car because of last years three blown engines. We figured out how to make a powerful engine and now had to make it reliable. We designed and built two new engines so we would always have a second to use if the primary gave us any problems. Noteable changes were - we used lightweight, stronger H-beam connecting rods, an after market racing oil pump, a better radiator with lower setpoint thermostat, and most importantly the best harmonic balancer we could buy. We ran the first engine through most of the summer and although we had some issues to work through, we had great results culminating with a new track record at Watkins Glen. Then we installed the second engine and ran it at a regional race weekend at Mid Ohio just to make sure it was good. It ran great, then we dyno tuned it to make sure we were getting all we could out of it. We used the second engine at the Runoffs at Indy. We also received the fixed tires from Hoosier just before the runoffs as well. At the Runoffs we started forth and lead the first 12 laps on rain tires until the track dried and we were passed by the only two cars on dry tires. We finished 2nd because of picking the wrong tires but the car and driver were near perfect. The car should be hard to beat next year.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2020

In our twenty first year we put in a lot of effort to make up for the year before. We installed a complete new Infinity Engine Management System, a new color display & logger, and a Vehicle Dynamics Module, all from AEM. This came with a complete new dash, again, and a total rewire of the car. We rebuilt the engine after the last race of last year and it was very strong. The car was ready to go BUT the China Flu hit. That delayed everything by months. We took the extra time to wrap the car in vinyl called Liquid Gloss Copper and it looked great. We took delivery of our new InTech 22ft stacker trailer and took it on its maiden voyage to St Louis. On the test day the transmission would not shift properly so we could not race. We also noticed the Discovery RV showed some signs of overheating. After fixing the transmission by loctiting some internal bolts we took the car to the June Sprints. On the first hot lap we broke a rod in the engine which put us out for the entire weekend. We believe the engine was overspun due to the transmission issue the weekend before. We also experienced more overheating with the Discovery which forced us to drive 55mph. After building another new engine we found it was very strong. We also had the Discovery radiator blown out, and the coolant replaced along with both thermostats. Next we took the car to Mid Ohio. The car ran well but we lost the Sat race due to a soft tire. We won the Sunday race but still had a low tire. The Discovery was overheating even worse. Next was the Cat National back at Road America to see if the car was ready for the Runoffs. We had to haul the car on the Featherlite behind the Excursion because of the Discovery overheating issue. The car ran fine except it blew a fuse in the qualifying session. It blew another fuse in the race later that day. We finally found the Emergency kill switch was bouncing and creating the blown fuses. In the Sunday race Kevin went out and ran away from everyone else.......until we had a flat tire in turn eight to end the race for us. Our next attempt with the car was back at Mid Ohio for the OVR Sprints. The car ran great and took the overall pole by 3 seconds. In the Saturday race Kevin came within a few tenths of breaking the track record that had been set 22 years ago. However near the end of the race we experienced another soft tire and dropped out. For the Sunday race we started way back but Kevin quickly passed everyone and took the lead and won the overall race, although we still found a soft tire. While this was all going on we decided to repair the Discovery ourselves by replacing the radiator, the Charge Air Cooler, the crossover pipe, all hoses & clamps, the water pump, the belts and idler bearings, along with new power steering fluid, engine oil and coolant so that it would be ready for the Runoffs. It ran perfect for the Runoffs week although the water pump decided to not run. We had new special tires from Hoosier and the car was running great. On out first session we had a steering column joint come loose and toss the car off the track. In the second session the car had been knocked out of alignment so it was un-drivable. In the third session it ran great and turned in a lap 1.5 seconds faster than it had ever gone on the track. At the start of the race, Kevin drove away from the rest of the pack. Even after a full course yellow he drove away from the rest of the pack, until we lost oil pressure on the 12 lap and blew the engine. WHAT A FUCKING YEAR!!

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2019

In our twentieth year we rewired the entire car and even created a new dash. We ran our first GridLife event at Mid Ohio to test the car. It was great fun and the car ran OK after all of those massive changes. Then we took it to VIR for a preface of the Runoffs that would be held there later in the year. The saturday race was a rain race that we should have won if we had not had a minor wheel problem. The Sunday race Kevin won in the last turn just edging out Kannard and Campbell. The next race at Mid Ohio we won both races and set a new track record but the car did not run well and had electrical problems. Then Sportscar magazine picked us to win the Runoffs which was definetly a curse. Nothing went well for the rest of the year. We found the electrical problem, but also found our engine was way down on power so we built a new engine for the Runoffs. It was fast but it broke a rod in the second day of qualifying. We reinstalled the weak engine just so we could run and Kevin had it in a solid third place podium finish with just one lap to go when we got a flat tire.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2018

In our nineteenth year Kevin had two new babies, and the Runoffs were in California, so we took most of the year off. We made some drastic changes to the Integra and ran better than we ever had before at Mid Ohio. We then made more changes to the car and ran a regional race at Mid Ohio late in summer and the car ran even better. We might be poised for a super year in 2019.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2017

In our eightteenth year we concentrated back on the FP Integra. Since Kevin and Carrie were in Texas we decided to take the Integra to COTA in Austin for its first races of the season. It was a great track to run but our car really did not like the slow corners. We then stopped at Hallett, OK on the way home and it was the same story - great track but slow corners that our gear box did not like. Then we finished the season at Mid Ohio and won both races. Finally we went to The Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Runoffs in September where we thought we would do well but only finished 5th. We finished the year by adding two crew members - The twins Cora & Edwin.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2016

In our seventeenth year we thought we would campaign two cars in the Majors since the Runoffs was at our home track. In addition to our two time National Champion Integra, we converted out 1992 Civic into Sport Touring Lite with the addition of a B17A1 engine, Wilwood brakes, Koni double adjustable shocks, etc. It was a lot of work and quite hectic (especially when running in back to back run groups), but a lot of fun. First we took the cars to Road Atlanta where the Integra won and the Civic finished well but needed a lot of work. Second we went to Pitt Race after they finally completed the second half of the track. It was excellant but we were hampered with huge amount of rain and then had our Sunday race concelled due to a tire barrior fire. Then we went to Mid Ohio where both cars did well. Lastly we went back to Mid Ohio for the Runoffs. The STL Civic did well but didnt have the ponies to run with the top five guys in the country. The Inetegra ran exactly as we planned and was poised to win the race until they threw the checker after nine hot laps in a 24 lap race - screwed. Running two cars is TOUGH!

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2015

In our sixteenth year we decided to take some road trips. We ran all five weekends at tracks that we had never raced at before. We started at New Orleans Motorsports Park with two wins and a new track record. Then went to Texas Motor Speedway where we won, then took second to a much inferior car & driver who blatantly cheated and the local SCCA region let him get away with it. We found out what high altitude does to our engine control system if not not properly tuned at High Plains and Pueblo. Finally we went to the National Championship Runoffs at Daytona International Speedway where we took the POLE POSITION in qualifying by over one second, WON the race, and set a new TRACK RECORD. It was a good year.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2014

In our fifthteenth year we pretty much took the year off. We hated to give up our run of 4 straight years as the National FP Points Champion, but between the Runoffs being in California an Kevin taking a new job and moving to Texas we had to. Kevin drove the FP Integra at Mid Ohio at the end of May in 2 National Majors Races. He won them both and actually ran a few laps under his own track record in quaifying. Of course we did not have enough races to compete for the Great Lakes Divisional championship, the Northern Majors Division Championship or the National Points championship even though we had won them all for four years in a row.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2013

In our fourteenth year we finally had the F Production and ITA Integras running well. And we converted the ITB Civic into an HP car. Kevin drove the FP Integra in 8 National Majors Races and 2 qualifying races. We ran our first races of the year and our first race ever at Michigan International Speedway. We won both days and set a new FP track record. He won the first race at Mid Ohio but finished sixth in the second race due to a flat tire while in the lead with 1 lap to go. We also lost the first race at Watkins Glenn by .088 seconds due to a flat tire with three turns left in the race. Kevin did, however, crush his own track record by over a second and win the Sunday race which was the super sweep race. At Gingerman he lost a third race while in a huge lead because of a flat tire but once again broke his own track record by nearly a second. On Sunday, after solving the flat tire problem, he won the whole run group by 42 seconds. We ran the ITA Integra at Mid Ohio in a qualifying race and a trophy race during the Grand Am race weekend. Kevin won overall in both races. Kevin won the Great Lakes Divisional championship, the Northern Majors Division Championship and the National Points championship for the fourth year in a row. Kevin drove the FP Integra at the Runoffs in September at Road America. He managed to finish 3rd with a bad transmission after starting the race and running almost all the race in second. Since Kevin is getting married in November we will not be going to the ARRC this year.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2012

In our thirteenth year we continued to develop the F Production and ITA Integras. Kevin drove the FP Integra in 10 National Races. After missing a double at Road Atlanta and a double at VIR due to problems with the new engine and Engine Management System, Kevin won the first race at Summit Point and set a new FP track record. He won the first race at Mid Ohio but finished second in the second race due to a Moron EP driver. He finished 2nd at the June Sprints at Road America for the fourth year in a row due to the engine still not being up to par. He took the pole and won both days at Gingerman and set a new track record. He finished second at Grattan due to slipping in oil from a blown EP cars engine. Our final two races were at the beautiful Barber Motorsports Park. We won the first race in a pouring rain, and we won the second race and crushed the FP track record. Kevin won the Great Lakes Divisional championship and the National Points championship for the third year in a row. After changing the final drive and limited slip differential in the ITA Integra, we took it to Mid Ohio for the restricted Regional race during the Grand Am weekend amd won all three races. After making some final modifications to the engine in the FP Integra, we went back to Road America to try to regain our National Championship. The car ran great but Kevin was forced off the track on the first lap all the way back to 12th. He did an excellant job fighting his way back to finish in 4th place. Since Kevin started his new job he did not have enough vacation to allow us to go to the ARRC this year.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2011

In our twelfth year we continued to develop the F Production Integra, and the ITB & ITC Civics. Kevin drove the FP Integra in 9 National Races. He won the first race at Road Atlanta by turning in several laps under the FP track record but finished 2nd in the second race due to electrical problems with the car. We had to scratch the races at VIR due to a broken subframe. He took the pole at the first of a National Double at Grattan but finished 4th due to a dead battery. He won the second race by a long margin. He won both races at Mid Ohio and set the track record both days. He finished 2nd at the June Sprints at Road America for the third year in a row. He took the pole and won both days at Watkins Glen and crushed the old track record. He has won the Great Lakes Divisional championship and the National Points championship. Kevin ran the ITC Civic at the OVR Autumn Classic and won all three races. We took the FP Integra back to Road America to defend our National Championship. The car ran great and was in 2nd when an injector failed and made the car sputter in to the pits on the 10th lap. Kevin ran the Integra at the OVR Sprints and won and took 5th due to a broken half shaft. Dick drove the ITB Civic and finished 4th and 5th while Bob L drove the ITC Civic and finished 5th both days. Lastly we took the ITA Integra and the ITB Civic to the ARRC in November. Kevin missed a sure win in ITB when the brakes went away in the Civic but ran a great race in the Integra for second place in an awesome field of cars.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2010

In our eleventh year we continued to develop both the F Production and ITA Integras. We also converted the 92 Civic CX from an ITC car into a Civic DX which we ran in ITB. Kevin drove the FP Integra in 8 National Races. He took the pole at Road Atlanta by turning in several laps under the FP track record and won the rain race. He won both races at VIR, and took the overall pole and overall win at mid Ohio. He took both overall poles at a National Double at Grattan but finished 2nd both days. He finished 2nd at the June Sprints at Road America. To cap off the year he won the National Championship Runoffs race. In the total of 8 national starts we had 5 wins, 3 2nds, and 4 pole positions. Dick drove the ITB Civic 4 times finishing 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th. Kevin drove the ITA Integra 4 times finishing 2nd and 3rd twice. He also drove the ITB Civic 6 times finishing first 5 times, and 2nd once . That included winning the ITB ARRC sprint race where he broke the track record and the ITB ARRC Enduro race.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2009

In our tenth year we built, raced, and developed the F Production Integra in National races including the June Sprints and the Runoffs. We also ran the National Champion ITA Integra at the IT Festival and at the ARRC to defend our championship. Kevin drove the FP Integra in 8 races and the ITA Integra in 7 races, and Dick drove the 92 Civic in 2 races, and the FP Integra in 2 races. At the ARRC at Road Atlanta, Kevin took the pole and won the ITA race in the Integra. At the Runoffs, after leading for a brief time, Kevin finished 5th, In the total of 19 starts we had 7 wins, 5 2nds, and 1 3rd with 8 pole positions.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2008

In our ninth year we fine tuned the 1992 Integra RS, fine tuned the Prelude Si, and rebuilt the engine and continued to try to figure out the carbs on the 85 Civic with our new wide band air-to-fuel ratio meter. Kevin drove the Integra in 13 races and Dick drove the Prelude in 4 races, the Civic in 3 races, and the Integra in 2 races. At the ARRC at Road Atlanta, Kevin WON the ITA race in the Integra, and Dick & Kevin placed second in the 3 hour enduro in the 85 Civic. In the total of 22 starts we had 10 wins, 3 2nds, and 2 3rds with 9 pole positions.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2007

In our eighth year we fine tuned the 1992 Integra RS, made some major changes to the Prelude Si, and continued to tried again to figure out the carbs on the 85 Civic. Kevin drove the Integra in 15 races and the 85 Civic in one race. Dick drove the 85 Civic S in 5 races and the Integra in 2 races. And Brian drove the Prelude Si in 8 races. Brian qualified the Prelude 8th and finished 9th after a wheel bearing broke, Kevin qualified the Integra 5th and finished 5th with a slipping clutch, and Dick and Kevin won the 3 hour enduro in the Civic S at the American Road Race of Champions at Road Atlanta. In the total of 30 starts we have had 11 wins, 9 2nds, and 5 3rds with 9 pole positions and one track record.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2006

In our seventh year we continued development of the 1992 Integra RS, and Brian returned to racing by driving the Prelude Si. Kevin drove the Civic with Dick in 1 race, and the Integra in 19 races; Dick drove the Civic CX in 4 races, the Integra in 1 race and the 85 Civic in 5 races; and Brian drove the Prelude in 12 races. Brian qualified the Prelude 7th and finished 8th, Kevin qualified the Integra 5th and finished 2nd, and Dick and Kevin won the 2 hour enduro in the Civic S at the American Road Race of Champions at Road Atlanta. In the total of 41 starts we had 15 wins, 15 2nds, 2 3rds, and 3 4ths with 15 pole positions and five track records.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2005

In our sixth year we continued the development of the 1992 Integra RS. Kevin drove the Integra in 18 races and the Civic CX in 2 races; and Dick drove the Civic CX in 9 races and the Prelude in 2 races. Kevin and Dick shared driving the Civic S in the ARRC Enduro. They actually replaced the head gasket, distributor, and coil in the pits during the race and went back out and finished the race. Kevin qualified 4th and finished 3rd in the American Road Race of Champions at Road Atlanta. In the total of 32 starts we had 14 wins, 7-2nds, 6-3rds, 3-4ths and 16 pole positions.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2004

In our fifth year we built the 1992 Integra RS. Kevin drove the new Integra 13 times and the old 85 Civic once. Dick drove the new Civic 12 times and the Prelude once. We had 26 starts with 6 wins/23% and 22 podium finishs/85%(and 9 pole positions). Caleb completed his SCCA school requirements in our 1985 Civic in just one school. Kevin qualified 7th and finished 7th at the American Road Race of Champions in Atlanta with the new Integra.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2003

In our fourth year we built the 1992 Civic CX that Kevin drove. Dick drove the old Civic in the same class as Kevin. Kevin raced the Prelude once. Of 20 starts we had 6 wins/30% and 13 podium finishs/65%.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2002

In our third year Kevin came back to driving and Dick started driving. We bought and rebuilt the 94 Prelude ITS car with which Brian took his first overall pole position and overall win. Of 27 starts we had 3 wins/11% and 9 podium finishs/33%.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2001

In our second year was when Kevin got hurt and did not race. We all concentrated on Brian and he really got to be a great driver. We learned a lot that year about driving, the cars, and safety. Of 15 starts we had 5 wins/33% and 11 podium finishs/73%. Brian qualified 12th and finished 8th in the American Road Race of Champions at Road Atlanta.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 2000

This was the team's first year of road racing and Brian & Kevin's first year behind the wheel. It was fun but we didn't really know what we were doing. Of 12 starts we had 1 win/8% and 3 podium finishs/25%.

Summary of the Ruck Racing history of 1999

This was the team's first year of SOLO2 racing. Kevin raced the Type R many times and brought home numerous trophies. He was named SCCA - Ohio Valley Region's "Rookie of the Year". We don't have good records of the actual results from that year.