It was a remarkable night for driver Angela Ruch of the Gander Truck Series, as she honored her father-in-law Bob Ruch tonight at the Charlotte Motor Speedway North Carolina Education Lottery 200.
Bob was an American Air Force veteran and recently of COVID-19 passed away.
COVID-19 certainly hits home for my husband and my father and myself, Ruch said. You read about it on TV but it is one of the worst things I’ve ever had to live with when it finally happens in your own personal home.
You can’t get the best funeral service when these events happen and for Mike (her husband) and me it has been a challenge to get through the days.
During Tuesday ‘s race, Ruch will drive a special paint scheme on her # 00 truck that will remember heroes as well as those who are in the fight against COVID-19.
There are people who have lost so many people whether it was COVID-19, if it was a service work or a war, we just want people to share their story, said Ruch. In the end, no one is alone and we are all in this together.
This is Angela’s first full season in the Truck Series and she is already blazing a bright path. She is the only driver in NASCAR that is a mother and earlier this year, she became the first female driver to ever lead a lap at Daytona.
She has only competed at Charlotte 3 times so she is a bit worried about that, but she knows she will have an angel running with her in 00 in Bob.
In the last event in Las Vegas, he actually attended the race. He is so proud of me, he tells me.
I am in a sport dominated by males, trying to do what I am doing and improve myself. He is always asking me to keep my head high and that’s what I’m going to do tonight.
