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Ragan Earns a Top 15 Finish in Crash Filled Race at Bristol |
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HAMPTON, GA (March 17, 2006)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team survived one
of the wildest Busch Series races in Bristol Motor Speedway
history. The race was marred by 13 cautions for 103 laps.
The race left many NASCAR Busch Series regulars frustrated
and dejected with multiple DNF's. Ragan and the No. 6 Discount
Tire Ford Fusion started in the middle of the field but managed
to work through the field to claim a solid 13th-place finish. |
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The NASCAR Busch Series Sharpie Mini 300 was a wildly
entertaining race that put many drivers' skill to the
test from the outset. It only took six laps to bring
out the caution when the No. 36 and the No. 47 wrecked
in turn four. Ragan was able to avoid all of these
mishaps early and appeared set for a fairly smooth run.
Ragan commented that the Discount Tire Ford Fusion
handled well all week in practice and in qualifying.
Ragan appeared to be in a great rhythm the first 30
laps but multiple cautions on lap 31, 36 and a red
flag on lap 38 prevented any jump in position. The
race track had taken a beating early with debris and
oil in turns one and two. On the restart on lap 46
Ragan complained the car was free on entry but it
was not a big problem, and he would monitor the car's
handling. The caution flew again on lap 57 but went
green for 47 consecutive laps starting on lap 64.
Ragan was running in the 17th position on the restart
but moved all the way up to 15th by lap 111. |
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Ragan brought the Discount Tire Ford Fusion into the
pits on lap 112, taking four tires, fuel and an air
pressure adjustment in the left rear. Ragan left the
pits in 13th position. After a multi-car wreck on lap
116, Ragan had moved up to the 11th position and appeared
poised for a hard charge through the field. Unfortunately
the caution would fly three more times during the next 42
laps negating any opportunity to move through the wreck-
filled field. |
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The No. 6 Discount Tire team made its second pit stop of
the day on lap 191, taking four tires and fuel. At this
point in the race many cars on the track looked as if
they had been through a war zone, but the Discount Tire
Ford Fusion got around the half-mile track with minimal
damage for much of the race. On lap 217 the car got very
loose. Ragan was instructed by crew chief Mike Kelley to
drive cautiously until he could make adjustments on the
next pit stop. |
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Ragan made his final pit stop on lap 234, taking four
tires, fuel and a slight air pressure adjustment in the
right front. The adjustments proved to be the right move
as Ragan was able to secure the 13th position for much of
the final 64 laps. |
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"It was definitely a wild day in Bristol," said Ragan.
"Under the circumstances it was a pretty good finish for
us. There were a lot of cautions today. We took care of
our race car and took what the track gave us. Fortunately
it was enough to get a top-15 finish. I am happy for our
entire crew, we are moving up in the points and that is
what matters most." |
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The 13th-place finish leaves Ragan 13th in the Busch Series
point standings. Ragan and the team will have an open weekend
but will stay busy testing at Richmond International Raceway
Tuesday and Wednesday. |
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About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR's largest team operating 13 motorsports teams,
five in NASCAR NEXTEL Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle,
Carl Edwards and David Ragan; five in the Busch Series with Kenseth, Biffle,
Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Todd Kluever, Michel Jourdain Jr. and Danny O'Quinn Jr.;
and three in the Craftsman Truck Series with Edwards, Peter Shepherd, Travis Kvapil
and Erik Darnell. 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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