Ruch ready to race again and inspire women in NASCAR

By Chris Lea, WRAL anchor/reporter

Charlotte, N.C. — Next week, racing is back for the Gander Truck series, and those drivers are ready for their seasons get the green flag.

One of their drivers is a woman who is looking to inspire other women who want to get in the industry: Angela Ruch.

Ruch is one of the few full-time woman drivers in NASCAR, and she currently competes on the Gander RV & Outdoors truck series. After racing for 10 years, This year is her first as a full-time driver.

"Being able to compete full-time in a series has been a big goal and a big dream of mine," Ruch said. "So knowing I have that in front of me this year I can only get better."

Angela and the other drivers on the truck series return to racing at Charlotte on May 26. She wants to represent women and girls who aspire to make it in the male-dominated world of racing. "I've definitely fought hard for it, so I hope girls take away that they can achieve anything as long as they keep digging and they never give up," she said.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Angela’s husband Mike and their two children won’t be able to attend the race in person — even though they live close by in uptown Charlotte.

"If you've got a kid that's never been on the track, you've got Angela that's got 30 starts, some not just get wrecked, people can get hurt," Mike Ruch said. "If I'm not able to be there by her side, that's a problem."

Angela and Mike both star in a reality show called "The Ruch Life" on Facebook Watch. Mike will have his wife’s back as she hits the track in Charlotte looking for her first truck series win.

"The toughest part as a driver is that you have no practice, no qualifying, you don't know the set up you have," Angela Ruch said. "You just kind of hope that you, the team, the truck and everything is in tune. You have what you have at that point."