Eddie Sharp Racing announces No 2 sponsor

RUBY TUESDAY TEAMS UP WITH EDDIE SHARP RACING'S TIM GEORGE JR. FOR SPONSORSHIP THROUGH TALLADEGA

Denver, NC (April 1, 2009) - Eddie Sharp Racing (ESR) announced today that leading casual-dining restaurant company, Ruby Tuesday will sponsor the No. 2 Toyota Camry racecar of Tim George Jr. for the next three ARCA RE/MAX Series races- Kentuckian Ford Dealers 200 at Indiana's Salem Speedway, Carolina 200 at North Carolina's Rockingham Speedway, and Talladega ARCA 250 at Alabama's Talladega Superspeedway.

"We couldn't be happier," beamed team owner Eddie Sharp. "Partnering with a national brand like Ruby Tuesday is great for the team and for the entire sport as a whole. We promise to give it our all to ensure that Ruby Tuesday experiences success both on and off the track."

Echoing Sharp's sentiments, driver Tim George Jr. added, "I am ecstatic to have Ruby Tuesday back on the car for the next three races. We have been working hard to grasp the new Ruby Tuesday marketing approach, and I feel I represent their brand well. To that end, we have also spiced up the paint scheme on my car a bit to reflect the more edgy personality that Ruby Tuesday is aiming for. I am also looking forward to watching the new Ruby Tuesday team transporter roll down the road."

For the 2009 season, George, hoping to attain the Most Popular Driver and Rookie of the Year awards, is proving himself to be a force to be reckoned with. Playing a vital role in securing Ruby Tuesday as a sponsor, George has already stood on the podium this year with a second place finish at Daytona for the inaugural Rolex 24, while in the ARCA Re/Max Series, George claimed a Top-10 right out of the box with his new team, and currently sits seventh in driver points. Additionally, in 2008, George earned a Grand-Am Rolex Series Rookie of the Year award.

Having established a reputation for its hands-on, personal approach and support for drivers making a foray into stock car racing, Eddie Sharp Racing has also become the main attraction in the ARCA garage for sponsors looking to break into the sport. In 2008, ESR garnered the support of such major brands as Red Bull and Aaron's, fielding the No. 2 and No. 22 cars as championship contenders.

Mark Young, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Ruby Tuesday said, "It was great to see the Ruby Tuesday car with a Top-10 finish at Daytona in our first ARCA Re/Max series race. Hopefully we can build on this success as we continue our relationship with Tim George, Jr. and Eddie Sharp Racing for the next three races."

As excitement for the next three races builds, George notes the extensive preparations being made to help enhance his, as well as Ruby Tuesday's, success, "John [Monsam] and the guys back at the shop have been working very hard to get the Salem car competitive for both myself and Ruby Tuesday. We have also been working hard on our Rockingham car and brand new Superspeedway car for Talladega. We used Lofton's Daytona pole qualify car as a basis to work from, and this should be a big help. Lofton has been very helpful at the recent tests, and I look forward to learning more from him and other drivers in the ARCA garage."

For the upcoming race at Salem, George also highlights the special significance this particular race will hold for him: "I am also very excited to race at Salem this Saturday, April 5th. My girlfriend, and former Miss Indiana, Nicole Rash will sing the National Anthem, which is a wonderful way for her to support me in my first short-track race in ARCA for this season. We went and tested at Salem and it was a very challenging racetrack. The only time I have raced on a short track is in a late model racecar, and it will be a lot more difficult to apply so much power to the ground. I am looking forward to the challenge."

The No. 2 Ruby Tuesday Toyota Camry piloted by Tim George Jr. will be adorned with a new Ruby Tuesday paint scheme for the next three races, which can be seen at www.timgeorgejr.com, as well as a new Ruby Tuesday- based video, coming soon to the site. Additionally, Tim George Jr. will be available for autograph signings on race day and at locations near Rockingham, NC and Talladega, AL (days and times to be announced).

-credit: esr