Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Finishes 15th at The Glen

Watkins Glen, New York — The Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team finished 15th today at Watkins Glen International Raceway for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and round eight of the Grand American Rolex Series presented by Crown Royal Reserve.

The race day conditions offered up a mixed bag for the 25 car Daytona Prototype field. A combination of drizzle and drying conditions had the Alex Job Racing crew shuffling slicks and rain tires off of the Ruby Tuesday number 23 Porsche-powered Crawford all day. With the varied weather, drivers Patrick Long and Mike Rockenfeller, were constantly negotiating a changing track, at one point on slick tires when the majority of the field had switched over to grooved rubber.

The changing environment had the young duo being dropped back in the field due to pit stops, but they were able to come back and even managed to lead a few laps on the day. As the hours slipped away into the final two, the team was poised for a run at a podium position until contact going into the famed Bus Stop chicane put Patrick Long into the gravel. The result was a stranded Ruby Tuesday number 23 that had to be extricated costing laps and a possible podium finish.

Patrick Long made an optimistic move into the Bus Stop that didn’t work out. "The number four car must have had a problem and I had a run on the 39, he then broke a little early, I was on the inside and had to take to the curb and spun us into the gravel. It may have been an optimistic move, but when you’re in the heat of competition in this series, as competitive as it is, you really have to take every opportunity. We had a good car and in retrospect I think a little more patience would have been rewarded at the checkered flag."

Mike Rockenfeller knows a valuable points opportunity was missed today. "I had a solo spin in turn one, I got up on the curb and it came around me, no damage but that sent us back a few places. Patrick had a good drive and the gamble he took into the chicane didn’t work out, but early on in the race he was four cars wide and was able to make up two positions in one turn, so some times it works and some times it doesn’t. We were in a good position for a podium today, I don’t think we had a winning car, but with that late yellow and the strategy we were on we at least could have had a run at them on the restart."

"We really battled the conditions today," said Alex Job, team owner. "Mike and Patrick were running a good race, when we fell back as a result of pit stops or when we were on slicks in the drizzle we were able come back and run at the top. Early in the race Patrick had a great move down the front straight, his move later in the race did not pay the same dividend. Mechanically we were very sound and the pit stops and strategy was right on. With the competition in this series you need all of the elements to come together with a little luck thrown in as well to win."

Round nine of the Grand American Rolex series will be run at Mid-Ohio Sportscar Course on June 24th.

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.