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Ragan Finishes 13th In Wild Race At Darlington |
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Darlington, S.C. (May 11, 2007)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire Ford
Fusion team managed to survive a wreck-fest
in the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 at Darlington
Raceway on Friday night. The NASCAR Busch
Series race was marred by a record-tying
10 cautions. Ragan avoided danger and brought
home a solid 13th-place finish. |
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It was a warm night at the track known as the
"Lady in Black" and Ragan was looking to tame
it. After qualifying in the eighth position
Ragan looked to stay with the lead pack for
the duration of the race. It would be an uphill
battle from the outset with Ragan losing 10
positions during the first 17 laps. Ragan was
having handling problems with the Discount Tire
Ford Fusion. He complained the car was a little
free in the center and tight off. The team would
get a much-needed caution on lap 23. Crew chief
Mike Kelley called Ragan to the pits on lap 24.
Kelley ordered four tires, fuel, a track bar
adjustment and an air pressure adjustment. By
lap 32 the adjustments seemed to pay off as
Ragan said the car was handling better off of
turn two. The caution would fly three more
times during the next 20 laps. |
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The caution flew on lap 43 when the No. 18 car
driven by Aric Almirola got into the No. 16
driven by Todd Kluever. Ragan gained four
positions during that period and was running
in the 15th position upon entering the pits
on lap 44. Kelley ordered four tires and an
air pressure adjustment. Ragan exited the pit
in 19th but quickly made his way to the front,
and when the caution flew again on lap 52 Ragan
was ordered to stay out. When green-flag racing
resumed on lap 59 Ragan was in the front of the
pack in fourth position. He would stay there for
the next 20 laps. |
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The No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion appeared to be
handling nicely through the turns and gaining
position on the race leaders. But by lap 85
Ragan had went 41 laps without a pit stop. Ragan
would lose three positions in two laps and it was
obvious he was competing with cars that had fresher
tires. To make matters worse Ragan complained the
car had gotten extra tight. The Discount Tire team
would need a caution. |
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On lap 111 the caution flew and Ragan entered the pits
on lap 114. |
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Upon entering the pit stall, Kelley ordered four tires,
fuel and a half pound of air pressure out of the front.
The race went green on lap 116 with Ragan in the 23rd
position. The race would not stay green for long. The
caution flew again on lap 120 and Ragan would enter
the pits for the last time on lap 121. The Discount
Tire team hoped a slight air pressure adjustment would
be the final adjustment needed to make a run at a good finish. |
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Ragan worked his way through traffic on the restart and
by lap 134 had gained six positions, moving into the
17th position. Ragan was threatening to crack the top
15 when the caution flew yet again a lap later. The
race was then red flagged four laps later for Bobby
Labonte's nose-first crash into the inside frontstretch
wall. A three-minute delay ensued and the race finally
went back to yellow on lap 140. The final green-flag
run started on lap 141 with Ragan in the 16th position.
The Discount Tire Ford Fusion came to life over the last
six laps with Ragan passing cars with ease and making a
run to the front of the pack. In the end Ragan and the
Discount Tire team ran out of green-flag laps and settled
for a 13th-place finish. Ragan was the highest finishing
rookie in the race. |
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"We had a good car tonight. It took us a while to figure
out a set-up that worked, but once we did the car came
to life," said Ragan. "This was a tough track to handle
tonight. I am happy that we finished the race and we
took care of our equipment. I would have liked to
finish in the top 10 but a top 15 isn't bad. The
Discount Tire team worked hard and made some great
strides in our program. We earned this finish tonight." |
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The 13th-place finish leaves Ragan sixth in the Busch
Series point standings. Ragan and the team will return
to action Saturday, May 26th at Lowe's 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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