8-9-07
For Immediate Release

Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Recovers From Suspension Damage at Watkins Glen

The Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team recovered from a broken right front suspension sustained in today's third practice session and returned to the track in time for the fourth practice session to post a time of 1:08.304, in preparation for tomorrow's Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve Round 12 race at Watkins Glen International.

In the third practice session, driver Emmanuel Collard lost control of the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Porsche Crawford Daytona Prototype (DP) and hit the turn six wall. Collard was uninjured, but the Alex Job Racing-prepared Porsche Crawford sustained suspension damage.

"I just lost the rear in the chicane," Collard said of his turn six excursion. "I was pushing [pretty hard]. I was surprised because I went sideways, but I thought I could recover. I went straight into the gravel and then straight into the wall."

Unfortunately, today's qualifying session began 15 minutes after the third practice ended, which means the team did not have time to fix the car prior to qualifying. As a result, they will start tomorrow's two-hour, 200-mile race from pit lane.

In the first practice session, driver Patrick Long turned the team's fastest lap with a 1:09.892 and in the second practice he posted the team's fastest lap of the day with a 1:08.206 around the 2.45-mile NASCAR short course.

"I am happy with the car," Long said. "The short course at Watkins Glen is unique in that it has the most flow out of any race track we'll visit this year - its all about high speed, high radius corners. I am really happy with the balance of the Crawford. It's a little bit frustrating starting from the back, but we proved real early on in Montréal that it's not the end of your weekend coming from behind. We'll come back like we did in Montréal and be racing in the front by half way through the race if all goes as planned."

"The team did a great job of putting the car back together," team owner Alex Job said. "The car seems to be good. Both drivers got some time it in the car. They say the car is good. So, I think it's in good shape for tomorrow. You know, this is not the first time we've had to start from the back. I guess we'll do it again. But, the encouraging part is the car is back together and it's good."

The Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team has one win, two top-five and eight top-10 finishes this season. Both, Bergmeister and Long are tied for ninth-place with 247 points (77 points behind the point leader Scott Pruett) in the Grand-Am Rolex Series Daytona Prototype Driver Point standings. The team is in seventh-place in the Grand-Am Rolex Series Team Point standings also with 247 points.

The green flag for Round 12 will drop at 6:30 p.m. (EDT), Friday Aug. 10. Grand-Am Rolex Series Daytona Prototype race fans can catch all of the same day tape delayed action beginning at 8 p.m. (EDT) on SPEED Channel.

Ruby Tuesday is one of the nation's leading casual dining restaurant companies, with more than 900 restaurants worldwide. It was founded in 1972 by Sandy Beall, who serves as Chairman and CEO today. The company is committed to uncompromising freshness and quality, served by passionate employees who take pride in delighting guests with an excellent dining experience. The menu features a wide variety of fresh signature items and entrees, among them the Fresh Garden Bar, Jumbo Lump Crab Cake, Chicken Fresco and Premium Aged Prime Sirloin. Guests can also enjoy Ruby Tuesday's renowned fresh handcrafted burgers, featuring its exclusive Triple Prime Burger. Ruby Tuesday, Inc. is traded on the NY Stock Exchange (symbol: RT). To find out more about Ruby Tuesday, visit www.rubytuesday.com.