June
29, 2006
Immediate Release
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.
Daytona
Speedway Daytona Prototype Starting Order:
1. Pruett/Diaz
Lexus/Riley
2. Bergmeister/Braun Ford/Riley
3. Angelelli/Taylor Pontiac/Riley
4. Gidley/McDowell Ford/Crawford
5. Valiante/Finlay Ford/Crawford
6. Gurney/Fogarty Pontiac/Riley
7. Long/Rockenfeller AJR Porsche/Crawford
8. Patterson/Negri Lexus/Riley
9. Leitzinger/Wallace Pontiac/Crawford
10. Fernandez/Haberfeld Pontiac/Riley
2006
Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team DP Finishes
Race
|
Drivers
|
Qualifying
|
Finish
|
Daytona
|
Long,
Luhr, Rockenfeller |
1
|
3
|
Mexico
City |
Did
not attend |
|
|
Homestead
|
Long,
Rockenfeller |
1
|
1
|
Long
Beach |
Long,
Rockenfeller |
2
|
2
|
Virginia
|
Long,
Rockenfeller |
*2
|
1
|
Laguna
Seca |
Long,
Rockenfeller |
*1
|
24
|
Phoenix
|
Long,
Rockenfeller, Tiemann |
*19
|
20
|
Watkins
Glen |
Long,
Rockenfeller |
5
|
15 |
Mid
Ohio |
Long,
Rockenfeller |
1
|
20 |
| Daytona
|
Long,
Rockenfeller |
7 |
|
*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 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 at chura@aol.com
or (248) 821-0468.
|