September 1, 2006
Immediate Release

Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Qualifies on Front Row at Miller

Tooele, Utah  --  The Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team qualified second for the final round of the Grand American Rolex Series presented by Crown Royal Reserve to be run at Miller Motorsport Park tomorrow afternoon. 

Mike Rockenfeller qualified the number 23/Ruby Tuesday/Alex Job Racing/Porsche Crawford on the front row for tomorrow’s nine-hour race with a time of 2:38.137 and an average speed of 102 mph.  The front row starting position is the Ruby Tuesday team’s tenth start of third or better on the Grand Am season.

Throughout the practice sessions, the Ruby Tuesday crew have had two goals; get newcomers Ralf Kelleners and Terry Borcheller comfortable in the car and with the track and put a setup under the Alex Job Racing prepared Porsche powered Crawford that can go comfortably over nine-hours.  With the final hour finishing in the dark, the team will have to be up on their strategy and the drivers ready for every eventuality.

Mike Rockenfeller is satisfied by his qualifying effort but not ecstatic.  “I did a solid lap, but not a great one.  On my second fast lap, which could have been a pole run, a car went off and brought rocks onto the track, I had to change up my line and that really cost me.  I am not sure a perfect lap is possible around this long track.  A front row starting position is good, especially with how long the laps are around here.  Terry and Ralf are getting up to speed quickly and the guys really have the car prepared well.  We will need to stay on the lead lap and in touch of the leaders.”

Ralf Kelleners is getting acquainted with the team and the Ruby Tuesday car.  “I am trying to get used to the car and the way it handles and drives.  We have a quick car at the moment, but not one that is that easy to drive, we need to work on that a little.  The track is really interesting, there is really every kind of turn out there, I really like it a lot.”

Terry Borcheller is enjoying his time in the Ruby Tuesday car.  “It has been great.  I drove in the series this year for another team and it is nice to be able to pass and run with cars that I haven’t been able to in the past.  I have gotten up to speed in the car and the team really has a good handle on the track and the setup of the number 23.  I am kind of tight fitting in the car, but a good car makes you forget about that by the time you get through the first corner.”

“Mike did a great job in qualifying,” said Alex Job, team owner.  “It is satisfying that of the 13 races we have run, we have only qualified worse than third – twice.  That is a testament to the team and our driver’s ability to press on the gas.  Terry and Ralf are getting familiar with the car and the way we do things, I am very happy with their contribution to our effort so far.  It would be nice to end the season with a win.”

The Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team is currently fifth in the battle for the team championship.  Long and Rockenfeller are fourth in the drivers point standings in the Daytona Prototype category. 

The final round of the Grand American Rolex series from Miller Motorsport Park will be televised on Speed Channel live starting at 2:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 2, the second segment of the telecast will begin at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Grand Am Daytona Prototype top Miller Qualifiers:

1.Pruett/Diaz/Dixon                                Lexus/Riley              2:37.998
2.Rockenfeller/Kelleners/Borcheller AJR Porsche/Crawford 2:38.137
3.Gurney/Fogarty/Vasser                 Pontiac/Riley                  2:38.253
4.Negri/Patterson/Pruett                   Lexus/Riley                    2:38.521
5.Angelelli/Taylor/Hunter-Reay          Pontiac/Riley                  2:38.543
6.Jonsson/Bergmeister/Braun           Ford/Riley                      2:39.196
7.Figge/Dalziel/Empringham             Pontiac/Riley                 2:39.216
8. Goosens/Duno/Johansson            Pontiac/Riley                 2:39.532
9. Fernandez/Haberfeld                    Pontiac/Riley                 2:39.63210.Gidley/McDowell/Cosmo              Ford/Crawford                2:39.774

2006 Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team DP Finishes

*Denotes qualifying race finish.

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 garden 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 at chura@aol.com or (248) 821-0468.