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Ragan Earns a Hard Fought 12th Place Finish at Milwaukee |
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West Allis, Wisc. (June 23, 2007)
West Allis, Wisc. (June 23, 2007) -
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team performed admirably under the
lights in the AT&T 250 at The Milwaukee Mile on Saturday night. The team
had another solid run in the NASCAR Busch Series on a night as half the
field did not finish on the lead lap. Ragan, pulling double duty in both
series, did not make it in time for practice or qualifying, flying from
Sonoma, Ca; site of Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup series race. Ragan missed
qualifying by five minutes and had to start in the rear of the field. He then
outshined many of NASCAR's premier Busch Series drivers to capture a 12th place finish. |
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Ragan spent the first 20 laps trying to get comfortable with the cars
handling. Ragan wanted to be patient and pick them off one by one.
Starting in the rear of the field did not allow for a lot of aggressive
driving early because of the many inexperienced drivers starting in the
back. It was clear from the start that Ragan had a fast car that could
run in the top 10 and it was only a matter of time before the team made
its move. The first caution of the night flew on lap 29. |
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The No. 6 Discount Tire team made their first pit stop under caution
on lap 30. Upon entering the pit stall crew chief Mike Kelley ordered
fuel, and a track bar adjustment. Ragan was in the 11th position after
the stop and when green-flag racing resumed the Discount Tire Ford
Fusion was making up ground on the leaders very fast. A hard charging
Ragan moved into the 10th position for the next 12 laps before falling
to 19th on lap 46. The caution flew again on lap 48 for debris on the
backstretch. Ragan commented the car was tight in the center and pushing
really bad. Ragan entered the pits on lap 50 for major adjustments. Kelley
ordered four tires, fuel, a track bar adjustment and an air pressure
adjustment. Ragan exited the pit stall in 25th position. |
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Green-flag racing resumed on lap 54, but the caution flew yet again two
laps later when the No. 77 car driven by Ron Hornaday hit the wall in
turn one. Ragan was clearly frustrated at the lack of green-flag racing. |
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Ragan and the Discount Tire team settled into the 20th position when racing
resumed on lap 62. The Discount Tire Ford Fusion came to life. Over the next
56 laps Ragan put on one of the most impressive performances of the season.
He fought an ill-handling race car but still managed to gain nine positions,
battling strong race cars every step of the way. |
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Ragan had moved into the 11th position when the fifth caution of the night
flew on lap 120, halting much of the momentum Ragan had gained during the
long green-flag run. Ragan pitted on lap 121. A chance for redemption on
pit road was on every crew members' mind. Kelley ordered four tires and fuel.
A great effort by the pit crew allowed Ragan to gain two positions upon exiting
the pit stall. |
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The race went green on lap 126 and Ragan was finally where he wanted to be in the
top 10. On lap 136 Ragan commented the car was tight when starting a long run.
The caution flew again on lap 164 when the No. 41 car driven by Scot Lagasse,
Jr. hit the wall in turn one. Kelley ordered Ragan to the pits on lap 166 for
four tires, fuel, a track bar adjustment and an air pressure adjustment in the
left rear. Another great effort by the pit crew allowed Ragan to stay in the
10th position upon exiting the pit stall. |
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Green-flag racing resumed on lap 171 and Ragan quickly moved into the eighth
position. By lap 187 he was the fastest car on the track. Ragan continued his
great run over the next 30 laps, moving into the top five by lap 201. |
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A debris caution flew on lap 221. At the same time Ragan commented the car was
loose while in the throttle. Ragan entered the pits for the final time on lap
222 and Kelley ordered four tires and fuel. Upon exiting the pit stall Ragan
made contact with the No. 18 car driven by Brad Coleman. Extensive Damage was
done to the nose and the right front of the Discount Tire Ford Fusion.
A successful pit stop was overshadowed by the incident. |
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At the end of the day Ragan and the Discount Tire team had a 12th place
finish, a solid points' day. |
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"We battled through major adversity tonight," said Ragan. "I was really upset
I didn't get to qualify the car today but I think we bounced back in a very
positive way. Erik Darnell did a great job practicing the car and relaying what
adjustments needed to be made. It was truly a team effort. We made up a lot of
ground in the points so in the end everything really worked out for us.
A win is still the number one goal for this team. I believe with every race
we are getting closer to Victory Lane." |
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The 12th place finish leaves Ragan third in the Busch Series point standings.
Ragan and the team will return to action next Saturday, June 30th at New Hampshire
International 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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