June
29, 2006
Immediate Release
Ruby
Tuesday Championship Racing Team Finishes Second at Daytona
Daytona Beach,
Florida -- The Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team finished second
this evening in round ten of the Grand American Rolex Series presented
by Crown Royal Reserve Brumos Porsche 250 run at Daytona International
Speedway.
Mike Rockenfeller
started the Ruby Tuesday number 23 Porsche powered Daytona Prototype
from the fourth row based upon team owner points. From the outset
the young German was able to rocket his way into the lead, eventually
taking over on lap 22. By the time he turned the car over to teammate
Patrick Long on lap 32 he was able to amass a six-second lead.
Long took over
and when the pit stops finally cycled through he was back in the
lead just six laps later. The Californian was under constant pressure
from the 01 for the lead throughout his stint. With the race running
caution free from lap five, fuel mileage became the story of the
race. The top runners had to pit for a splash of gas, with the number
76 car able to go the distance on just one stop.
Mike Rockenfeller
was able to set fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:45.979
on his 22nd lap. The second place finish marks the Ruby Tuesday
team’s best result since their victory at Virginia International
Raceway in round five.
Patrick Long
is happy with second, but wanted the win. “We definitely had
the speed today. Mike did a great job to get us in the lead and
my battle with Pruett was one of my better drives. It was fulfilling
to be able to race with a guy I’ve admired coming up and keep
him behind me. At the end we needed the splash and thought that
everyone else did as well, the Ford just was able to go a few more
laps and that was difference between winning and second. It is nice
to get back to the podium after a difficult string of races.”
Mike Rockenfeller
knows victory was within reach. “We chose to run a low downforce
setup as we were starting in seventh. We gave up some time in the
infield but were able to make it up with handling through the Bus
Stop and use the speed around oval. Patrick had a good drive and
kept the 01 car behind and we did the job on the pit stops. The
Krohn car was just a little more efficient than ours tonight. I
hope we have put our bad luck behind and look forward to gaining
as many points as possible in the last rounds.”
“We ran
a good race.” said Alex Job, team owner. “Mike and Patrick
did the job behind the wheel and the crew did the job on the pit
stops. The series is very tight at the front with three different
engine manufacturers on the podium that says a lot about the competition
and make-up of the Daytona Prototype category. We had the car to
win, but the way the race played out with just one caution period
it was a gamble to try and do it on one stop, the Krohn guys made
it work. After our last four outings, it is a good feeling to be
back on the podium and to have the car back competing for wins.”
The Ruby Tuesday
Championship Racing Team will return to the track on July 30th to
run round eleven at Barber Motorsports Park.
Daytona Speedway
Daytona Prototype Top Finishers:
1. Bergmeister/Braun Ford/Riley
2. Long/Rockenfeller AJR Porsche/Crawford
3. Pruett/Diaz Lexus/Riley
4. Angelelli/Taylor Pontiac/Riley
5. Gurney/Fogarty Pontiac/Riley
6. Tracy/Borkowski Lexus/Riley
7. Valiante/Finlay Ford/Crawford
8. Gidley/McDowell Ford/Crawford
9. Fittipaldi/Cheever Porsche/Crawford
10. Patterson/Negri Lexus/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 |
2 |
*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.
|