Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Fastest at Daytona

Daytona Beach, Florida — The Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team posted the fastest practice time today, but will start seventh for round ten of the Grand American Rolex Series presented by Crown Royal Reserve Brumos Porsche 250 to be run at Daytona International Speedway this evening.

Despite Mike Rockenfeller running a time of 1:44.779, almost two seconds faster than his closest pursuer, the Ruby Tuesday number 23 Porsche powered Daytona Prototype will take the green flag from the fourth row for the two-hour-and-forty-five minute race slated to start at 7:00 p.m. ET. Qualifying was scrubbed due to track communication problems, causing the Grand American officials to line-up the field according to team points.

In January Lucas Luhr did a time of 1:44.009 to get the pole for the Daytona 24 hour. Rockenfeller almost equaled that time in near 100-degree heat this afternoon. Back in testing leading up the 24 hour in December, the Alex Job Racing prepared Porsche Crawford ran a time of 1:43.431.

The Ruby Tuesday team is looking to reverse their fortunes of late and get back on the winning track. Since their second victory of the season at Virginia International Raceway, the Ruby Tuesday team has struggled to a best finish of 15th in the last four races.

Patrick Long is looking forward to the night race. "The conditions are a lot different than when we were here in January and the times reflect the heat. We did a lot of adjusting through the morning and we have a good car. I was able to get some good clean runs and the car is nearly back to January form. No qualifying is not really a big deal, with the oval it is a little easier to pass."

Mike Rockenfeller is a disappointed about qualifying being cancelled. "The pole would have been a nice reward for the team with the luck we’ve had of late. The car is ok, we don’t have quite the piece we had in January, but we are still very good. I had a good clear lap in the last practice session and was able to run a good time. We have a couple of tenths left in the car, but we will be good in the race. I should have about two or three clear laps before we start to hit GT traffic, so hopefully I can work my to the way front."

"We were really working up to a pole run." said Alex Job, team owner. "Mike, Patrick and the Ruby Tuesday team did a good job to adjust the car for the heat and get it close to how we ran in January. We were hungry for the pole and it is a little disappointing to be starting seventh, but we have a fast car and the guys are ready for a win."

The Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team is currently seventh in the battle for the team championship. Long and Rockenfeller are eighth in the drivers point standings, 67 out of the lead in the Daytona Prototype category.

Round ten of the Grand American Rolex series from Daytona will be televised live on Speed Channel tonight starting at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Ruby Tuesday is one of the nation’s leading casual-dining restaurant companies, with more than 800 restaurants worldwide. It was founded in 1972 by Sandy Beall, who serves as Chairman & CEO today. The company is committed to having uncompromising freshness and quality with passionate employees who take pride in delighting guests with an excellent dining experience. The burger-centric menu features an assortment of handcrafted burgers, its fresh salad bar, premium baby back ribs and a variety of other signature entrees. Ruby Tuesday, Inc. is traded on the NY Stock Exchange (symbol:RI). To find out more about Ruby Tuesday, please visit www.rubytuesday.com

To view the Alex Job Racing press kit or for additional information, please refer to www.alexjobracing.com or contact Kyle Chura by or at (248) 821-0468.