FORM 8-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) July 21, 2004 CHECKERS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in charter) DELAWARE 0-19649 58-1654960 (State or other (Commission (IRS Employer jurisdiction of File Number) Identification No.) 4300 WEST CYPRESS STREET, SUITE 600, TAMPA FLORIDA 33607 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (813) 283-7000 Former name or former address (if changed since last report) NOT APPLICABLE Item 9. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE. On July 21, 2004, the Registrant issued a news release entitled "Checkers(R)/Rally's(R) Managers' Awards Nearing $40,000 in Prizes Circuit City(R) Bonanzas Part of Company's Award-Winning Incentive Programs", a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. CHECKERS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS, INC. By:_________________________________ Name: Keith E. Sirois Title: Director, CEO and President Dated: July 21, 2004 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit Number Description 99.1 Press Release, dated July 21, 2004 Exhibit 99.1 CHECKERS DRIVE-IN RESTAURANTS, INC. 4300 West Cypress Street, Suite 600, Tampa, Florida 33607 * (813) 283-7000 * (813) 283-7001 CONTACT: Kim Francis MARC PR 412-562-1186 kfrancis@marcusa.com Checkers(R)/Rally's(R) Managers' Awards Nearing $40,000 in Prizes Circuit City(R) Bonanzas Part of Company's Award-Winning Incentive Programs TAMPA, FL - July 21, 2004 - Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., (NASDAQ: CHKR), the nation's largest double drive-thru chain, recently awarded another one of its top-performing managers with nearly $10,000 worth of electronic prizes. This fourth Circuit City(R) Bonanza event, which took place on July 16th, brings the grand total of electronic prizes awarded to approximately $40,000 during the year. Prizes have included a 53-inch TV, DVD player, digital camera, home computer with Internet access, and a collection of DVDs. "Our employees are key to Checkers(R)/Rally's(R) success, so we're proud to reward our top managers with these great prizes through our Circuit City Bonanzas," said Steve Cohen, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. "The Circuit City Bonanza is just another example of Checkers/Rally's employee incentive programs that support both our franchise and Company store community by helping motivate employees, improve store-level performance, and reduce employee turnover. I congratulate these managers and their crews for their outstanding performance this year." The four winning managers included Angela Cunningham, Rally's Company store manager from Indianapolis, Indiana; Amanda Walker, Checkers Franchise store manager from California, Maryland; Barbara Aguirre, Rally's Franchise store manager from Lancaster, Ohio; and Byron Henderson, Rally's Franchise store manager from St. Louis, Missouri. "This is a great program," said Amanda Walker, Checkers manager from California, Maryland, who was flown to Tampa where she sprinted through Circuit City for ten minutes collecting signs, each representing an electronic prize. "All of my hard work definitely paid off, and I'm glad to be able to share prizes with my crew because it takes a team to succeed." Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. was recently awarded the 2004 American Business Award(SM) for Best Human Resources Executive and the 2003 People and Performance Award for its outstanding employee recognition programs, including the 2003 "Speed to Succeed" program where cars are awarded on a monthly basis. Checkers/Rally's attributes much of its recent turnaround to its investment in people through recognition and training programs. Through the Company's manager incentive programs, top-performing Checkers/Rally's managers across the country have been awarded 56 vehicles over the past three years. Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. (www.checkers.com) is the largest double drive-thru restaurant chain in the United States. The Company develops, produces, owns, operates and franchises quick service "double drive- thru" restaurants. Except for historical information, this announcement contains "forward-looking" and "Safe Harbor" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking and Safe Harbor statements reflect management's expectations based upon currently available information and data; however, actual results are subject to future events and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to materially differ from those projected in these statements. Further information regarding factors that could affect the company's financial and other results is included in the company's Forms 10Q and 10K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.