LEXINGTON, Ohio -  The dark ominous storm clouds that hovered over the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course at the start of today's Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series EMCO Gears Classic was just an early sign what was to come for the Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team.
 
Basically, the team's day ended before the green flag dropped on round seven. Driver Joey Hand just started the pace laps when something happened to the drivetrain and the result rendered the No. 23 Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team Porsche-powered Crawford Daytona Prototype immobile. Stuck on track, safety crews had to move the No. 23 machine behind the wall before the green flag came out.
 
Shortly after the race started, a deluge of rain fell on the 2.258-mile circuit. The massive rainfall led to a multi-car accident, which brought out the race's first caution. As the conditions worsened, coupled with the fact that the team was already several laps down at this point, Team Owner Alex Job decided to park the No. 23 machine rather than risk severe car damage with the next round only two weeks away.
 
"Unfortunately all of the hard work the Ruby Tuesday team put in this weekend came to an abrupt end on the first pace lap," Hand said. "We always try to warm the tires [before the race], especially because it was starting to sprinkle. There was a possible chance that the race was going to go green with us on slicks. It was sprinkling just enough to make the track slick. When you warm-up tires, you get the rear wheels broke loose and get them spinning. I did that twice on the back stretch and once on the front stretch. When I dumped the clutch to get them spinning, something broke. It was a tough break because this might have been our chance to do something, especially with the rain. These guys have worked so hard with not a lot to show for it. Like I said before, our day will come and hopefully it is really close."
 
"It has been a difficult two days," Job said. "We had some issues with the car - a lack of downforce and a huge understeer. Unfortunately, to top that off, something in the drivetrain broke on the pace lap. We never even took the green. It was a disappointing event."
 
The Grand-Am Rolex Sports Cars Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 heads to the World Center of Racing July 3 for the Brumos Porsche 250.
 
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.
 
For more information regarding the Ruby Tuesday Championship Racing Team, visit www.alexjobracing.com or contact Adam Horn at ahorn@iland.net or (660) 864-8927.