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Ragan Dazzles in First Busch Start at Talladega |
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Talladega, Ala. (April 28, 2007)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion
team continued its success in restrictor-plate races
capturing a fourth-place finish in the Aaron's 312
at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday afternoon.
The race featured a Busch record 36 lead changes
and a track record 20 different leaders. It was
the best day of the season thus far for Ragan and
the young Discount Tire team. |
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It was a typical day at Talladega Superspeedway,
where restrictor plates are used to slow the cars.
The fireworks started early with a lot of aggressive
racing from the outset. Ragan started the race in
the seventh position and immediately gained four
positions by lap three. The first caution flew on
lap nine because of a four-car wreck down the back
stretch. The race went green on lap 13. Ragan had
moved up to the second position and a lap later
was running in the lead. But that was short lived
because the lead pack came roaring up and by lap
16 he was in the 10th position. At that point Ragan
was satisfied just to click off laps and get a feel
for the car and how it would handle on the track
throughout the race. |
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On lap 27 a horrifying crash involving the No. 5
car driven by Kyle Busch brought out the caution.
Ragan was running 14th at the time, and it appeared
the Ford Fusion had suffered mild damage due to
debris from the wreckage. Crew chief Mike Kelley
ordered a pit stop on lap 28. Kelley wanted to
assess the extent of the damage, put on four fresh
tires and fuel. The damage did not appear to be
extensive but it was enough to call Ragan back to
the pit a lap later to fix the damage. |
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The race was under a green flag for the next 25
laps with six different lead changes in that span.
Ragan went from the 34th position to 20th by lap 53.
The yellow came out again on lap 56 when the No. 25
car driven by David Gilliland made contact with the
No. 20 driven by Aric Almirola. Ragan was ordered to
pit on the next lap and received four tires, fuel and
an air pressure adjustment in the right front. A
stellar effort by the Discount Tire pit crew put
Ragan in 18th position, gaining three spots. |
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Ragan would bounce all over the running order for the
next 46 laps but in the end he found the lead pack.
By lap 102 Ragan had climbed to the third position and
a break-through win looked very possible. Ragan's Ford
Fusion was as fast as any car on the track but the
caution would slow the action again on lap 103. But
by lap 107 the race went green and Ragan resumed the
third position with nine laps to go. A seven-car
pileup would intensify the drama of the race on lap
110, then a red flag on lap 112. After a 16-minute
delay, the race was restarted but NASCAR called a
caution for debris from Kasey Kahne's damaged car on
lap 115, setting up a green-white-checkered finish.
Ragan was able to hang on from a hard charging field
the last lap to secure a fourth-place finish, a career day. |
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"We had an awesome run today. I am so proud to be a
part of this team", said Ragan. "To rebound like
this shows the heart our guys have. If we can build
on this finish every week the Discount Tire team
will be in contention for a championship. We have
to keep digging and good things will happen for us." |
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The fourth-place finish leaves Ragan seventh in the
Busch Series point standings. Ragan and the team will
return to action next Friday, May 4 at Richmond
International Raceway. |
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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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