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Ragan Unlucky in Busch Start at Nashville |
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Nashville, Tenn. (April 7, 2007)
David Ragan and the No. 6 COATS/ Discount Tire Ford
Fusion team looked very strong going into the Pepsi
300 at Nashville Superspeedway on Saturday. The Ford
Fusion was consistently one of the fastest cars in
practice on Friday and had a great qualifying run on
Saturday morning, starting in the sixth position.
Unfortunately due to fellow competitor's mistake a
strong finish was not meant to be. |
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It was a chilly day at Nashville Superspeedway. The
temperature at the start of the race was a balmy 40
degrees. The COATS/Discount Tire team was confident
Ragan's experience on the track and the set-up of the
Ford Fusion would make for a great run, and a possible
breakthrough victory for the team. |
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It appeared as if Ragan wanted to be patient the first
few laps. Ragan commented the car was handling fairly
descent the first 30 laps but by lap 43 it was a little
tight into the center. There was no real drama the first
60 laps with the lead only switching hands three times
and Ragan consistently running in the 13th and 14th position. |
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The No. 6 COATS/Discount Tire team made their first pit
stop under a green flag on lap 68, a lap later than most
of the other teams. Crew chief Mike Kelley ordered four
tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment in the right
front. Ragan was running 15th after the stop and by lap
77 had moved up to 13th. The first caution flew on lap 85
when the No. 10 car spun out. The team made another pit
stop under caution on lap 88. This time Kelley ordered
four tires, fuel and a half pound of air pressure out of
the right front. Ragan had moved to the 11th position after
the stop and was making up ground on the leaders very fast. |
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On lap 92 a wreck involving the No. 88 and the No. 21
forced Ragan's Ford Fusion to the bottom of the track
were he was carelessly bumped from behind by the No. 66
driven by Steven Wallace while Ragan was slowing for the
caution . Ragan was forced into the wall hard, damaging
the Ford Fusion beyond repair. It was a horrible end to
a promising day. |
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"It was definitely a disappointing way to end the day,"
said Ragan. "I feel bad for COATS and Discount Tire.
We had a great car that could have won this race. If
it wasn't for one careless driver we could have made
some things happen today. This stuff cannot continue.
We just have to put this behind us and get back on track
next week." |
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The 36th-place finish leaves Ragan 16th in the Busch
Series point standings, but Ragan and the team will return
to action next Saturday, April 14th at Texas Motor Speedway. |
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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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