Ricky Rudd Turns Laps in No. 8 Synergy Racing Porsche Doran at Mid-Ohio

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 24, 2006) -- On the heels of this morning's announcement that legendary racer Al Unser Jr. will co-drive the No. 8 GlycoMax Porsche Doran with brothers Burt and Brian Frisselle in next weekend's Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen, NASCAR star Ricky Rudd turned laps in the Synergy Racing Daytona Prototype at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course today with an eye toward competing in future Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve events.

Rudd, heralded as one of NASCAR's 50 greatest drivers, compiled 23 NEXTEL Cup Series victories during his career, including a record 16 years in-a-row with at least one win. Rudd was also the 1992 Crown Royal IROC Series champion. On Wednesday, Rudd turned laps in the No. 8 GlycoMax Porsche Doran at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, which will host the Rolex Series next month, for the EMCO Gears Classic presented by Key Bank, on the weekend of June 23-25. No deal has been announced for Rudd to drive in any 2006 Rolex Series events.

Rudd was joined at Mid-Ohio by 2005 EMCO Gears Classic winner Elliott Forbes-Robinson, who is an instructor at the course. Forbes-Robinson teamed with Butch Leitzinger last season in the No. 4 The Boss Snowplow Pontiac Crawford for Howard-Boss Motorsports to score a dramatic victory as Leitzinger passed leader Scott Pruett in the No. 01 CompUSA Chip Ganassi Racing Lexus Riley late in the race.

"I love the track," said Rudd. "I've always enjoyed road courses and I really like the new surface at Mid Ohio, even though this is my first time here. I've always been fascinated with Grand-Am. Right now, I'm just trying to get rid of all of the habits I learned in NASCAR, because these cars are so different from stock cars. I am lucky that Elliott took me around the track today because there's really nobody better to learn this place from than him."

The Virginia native is also no stranger to other Rolex Series circuits, as Rudd posted a season-best runner-up NEXTEL Cup finish at Infineon Raceway last year. The Infineon circuit was also the site of Rudd's last NASCAR victory, which came in 2002. The Sonoma, Calif. venue will host to the Rolex Series in 2006 for the season's penultimate race on the weekend of August 24-26.

The No. 8 machine is regularly co-driven by Burt and Brian Frisselle, sons of former IMSA champion Brad Frisselle. During a media teleconference earlier today, the Synergy Racing team announced the addition of two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr. to the driver lineup for next weekend's Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen. 

Please Note: Ricky was invited by some close friends to participate in this one time only and has no intentions to start racing in this circuit.