 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ragan Finishes 25th in Night Race at Charlotte |
|
|
|
|
|
Concord, N.C. (May 26, 2007)
The stage was set for a great run in the NASCAR Busch Series CARQUEST
Auto Parts 300 under the lights on Saturday night at Lowe's Motor
Speedway. David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team looked to build
on the growing success the team has had in the Busch Series. After a
great qualifying run and an excellent week of practice, a top-10 finish
was inevitable. But on this night it was not meant to be. Ragan would
have handling problems with the Ford Fusion and a lot of bad luck, which
forced the team to make major adjustments to a good car. Ragan was able
to overcome these challenges and salvage a less than stellar 25th pace
finish. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
It was a warm night at Lowe's Motor Speedway with temperatures in the
90's most of the day. Ragan and the Discount Tire team would face adversity
from the outset and it continued downhill for much of the race. On lap 8
Ragan said the car was tight on exit and free in. This seemed to be the
theme of the night for the young team. On lap 26 a wreck in turn two produced
the first caution of the night. Crew chief Mike Kelley ordered Ragan to the
pit on lap 27. Kelley called for four tires, fuel and an air pressure
adjustment. Ragan exited the pit in the 12th position but quickly gained
three positions over the next 10 laps. It appeared the adjustments were right
on schedule. But on lap 41 Ragan said the car was still tight center off and
getting worse by the minute. |
|
|
|
|
|
Ragan would struggle maintain his hold on the 9th position for 26 more laps. |
|
|
|
|
|
The problems got worse during a three lap span when Ragan fell back three
positions and was sitting in 13th position by lap 67. The Ford Fusion was
clearly not responding to the adjustments made earlier in the race. On lap
74 Ragan again complained that the car felt "real bad". Kelley flirted with
the idea of making a green flag pit stop. By lap 82 Ragan had fallen four
more positions into 17th place. |
|
|
|
|
|
Ragan would have to maneuver through the pack carefully for the next 20 laps. |
|
|
|
|
|
The No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion would bounce around the running order until
on lap 93 a left rear tire appeared to be going down and a green flag pit stop
was a must. Kelley ordered four fresh tires, fuel, a track bar adjustment and
another air pressure change. Ragan exited the pit in the 27th position but quickly
gained six positions in six laps. By lap 99 the Discount Tire team was primed for
a long green flag run but the third caution of the night would fly on lap 112. Just
as the caution flew Ragan said the car was tight off turn two and four. Upon entering
the pit stall on lap 114, Kelley ordered another track bar adjustment and air pressure
adjustment. |
|
|
|
|
|
The race went green on lap 115 with Ragan in the 23rd position. The race would not
stay green for long. The caution flew again on lap 128 and Ragan would enter the pits
on the same lap. Kelley called for a slight wedge adjustment and fuel. A few laps
later Ragan complained the car was really loose. Ragan would drive the car hard and
fast to gain track position and try to secure the "lucky dog" over the next few laps,
but on lap 130 he lost control of the car and spun out. |
|
|
|
|
|
The race would be under caution for the next four laps. The frustration had sat in
for Ragan and the Discount Tire team and it was clear they just wanted to finish
the race. The caution would fly three more times during the race, but the most
significant moment came when the caution flew for a four-car wreck on lap 148.
This enabled Ragan to gain valuable track position, gaining four spots over the
next 12 laps. Ragan would continue to have handling problems for the rest of the
night, but was able to be patient and take what the track and his car would give
him. At the end of the day a 25th place finish was the result. It was a tough night
for a young talented team. |
|
|
|
|
|
"We had an awesome car coming into tonight, but I guess it was not meant to be," said
Ragan. "This was a tough one to swallow because the expectations were so high. I am
disappointed for the entire Discount Tire crew. They worked hard all week to get our
car just right, but it just didn't respond to anything we tried to do tonight. It is
hard to take any positives from a night like this, but we did finish the race. We
expect great finishes every week and when it doesn't happen it is very frustrating. I am
very confident that this team will bounce back in a big way next week in Dover." |
|
|
|
|
|
The 25th-place finish leaves Ragan seventh in the Busch Series point standings.
Ragan and the team will return to action Saturday, June 2nd at Dover International Speedway. |
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
Go to: |
|
|
DTC Motorsports Home for the Latest Racing News |
|
|
or |
|
|
The Racing News Archive to read previously featured stories. |
|
|
|
|
