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Ragan Has an Average Day at Atlanta |
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Hampton, GA (March 8, 2008)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team gave a
valiant effort in the Nationwide Series Nicorette 300
on Saturday afternoon. The field was set by owners
points from the 2007 season, due to inclement weather
that washed away qualifying on Saturday morning. Ragan
started in the 12th position, but ran in the top 10 all
day until an air pocket in the fuel line on lap 197 put
him out of the top 10. Ragan finished the day in the 16th
position. |
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Ragan started the race in the 12th position, but
quickly lost a few spots the first 20 laps. On
lap 25, Ragan commented his Ford Fusion was tight
center off, but was handling well enough to mix it
up in the middle of the pack. A debris caution flew
three laps later. Crew chief Mike Kelley called Ragan
to the pit stall on lap 30. Upon entering the pit stall
Ragan was in the 16th position. Kelley called for four
tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. A good
pit stop by the pit crew allowed Ragan to exit the
pit stall in the 12th position. |
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The adjustments made brought the Discount Tire Ford
Fusion to life. Ragan made up a lot of ground over
the next 20 laps and settled into the 10th position
by lap 48. The caution flew the same lap for a two-car
wreck. Kelley told Ragan to stay out. Ragan said his
Ford Fusion had really good balance. It was evident
the Discount Tire Ford Fusion was responding well to
the track conditions. |
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The race was restarted on lap 52. |
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The next 35 laps saw Ragan move around the running
order, settling in as high as ninth and as low 15th.
A cycle of green-flag pit stops began on lap 84.
Ragan was called to the pit stall on lap 85 for
adjustments. Kelley ordered for four tires, fuel
and a wedge adjustment. The Discount Tire pit crew
ripped off a blazing 14 second pit stop which allowed
Ragan to get back in the lead pack a few laps later. |
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On lap 96, Ragan was in the 15th position and closing
in on the top 10. On lap 142, the caution flew for a
fifth time for a three-car wreck in turn four. Kelley
called Ragan to the pit stall the same lap for major
adjustments. Kelley ordered four tires, fuel and an air
pressure adjustment. Ragan exited the pit stall in the
ninth position. |
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Ragan and the Discount Tire team rallied the next 25
laps, gaining track position every lap. Ragan was among
the fastest in the field on lap 168. Ironically, Ragan
commented on lap 169 his Ford Fusion was getting looser
every lap. The handling problems did not affect Ragan's
performance. The caution flew again on lap 172 when leader
Kyle Busch blew a tire getting into turn one. Kelley called
Ragan to the pit stall for the final time on lap 172. Kelley
ordered a track bar and wedge adjustment. The strategy paid
off as Ragan exited the pit stall in the first position. |
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The race went green on lap 175. Ragan battled to stay in the
top five the next 15 laps. Ragan tussled with NASCAR superstars
like Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards for track
position. On lap 188, a four-car wreck put a halt to the action.
The race was red-flagged while safety crews cleaned the track.
The yellow came out on lap 191, and the race was restarted on
lap 193. Ragan's Ford Fusion had an air pocket in the fuel
line as he pushed down on the throttle. The Ford Fusion was
bottled up in traffic and forced into the wall hard by another
competitor. This incident brought out the caution and the race
finished on a green-white checkered flag. Ragan was able to get
to pit road for quick adjustments. The Discount Tire pit crew
got Ragan back on the track before he went a lap down and salvaged
a 16th-place finish. |
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"We had a solid run until that white flag lap. We were close on
fuel and burped on that last restart and tore the right side off
of it. I feel like a little bit of pit strategy and a couple of
cautions that could have fallen our way, we could have had a top
five run. We had a solid top 10 car all day. It's just one of
those things that happen and we have to learn from it. Still
managing to finish where we did, we are fortunate that there were
only two laps left in the race." |
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Ragan will compete next at Bristol Motor Speedway on March 15th
in the Sharpie Mini 300. Ragan is currently fourth in Nationwide
Series Championship standings. |
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About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR's largest team operating 13 motorsports teams,
five in NASCAR Sprint Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle,
Carl Edwards and David Ragan; seven in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle,
Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; and three in the Craftsman
Truck Series with Braun, Darnell and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA/REMAX Series
with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
For more information on any of the Roush Fenway Racing teams, log onto
www.RoushFenway.com.
For sponsorship inquiries please contact Robin Johnson at 704.720.4645. |
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