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Ragan Finishes 18th at New Hampshire |
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Loudon, N.H. (June 30, 2007)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team put in a workman-like
effort on Saturday in the Camping World 200 at New Hampshire
International Speedway. An 18th-place finish was not
exactly what the team was looking for but it was a
steady run that kept Ragan and the Discount Tire team
in the top five in the Busch Series point standings.
The team made wholesale changes to the Discount Tire
Ford Fusion because of their struggles in practice on
Friday. Ragan went on to qualify 11th on Saturday. |
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Ragan endured handling problems from the outset of the race.
The Ford Fusion that qualified so well was tight through
the center under throttle. The first caution flew on lap 15
and crew chief Mike Kelley ordered Ragan to the pits for
adjustments. Four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment was
the call. Kelley hoped this adjustment would loosen up the car
and give Ragan more confidence to handle the car in traffic. |
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Ragan exited the pits in 31st position. On the restart on lap19,
Ragan maneuvered through the back of the field, gaining three
positions over the next 10 laps. On lap 33 Ragan commented the
car was still tight through the center but it was starting to
get a little better. The second caution flew on lap 35 and Kelley
ordered Ragan to stay out when the pits opened on lap 37. The call
allowed Ragan to gain valuable track position. Ragan was second on
the restart on lap 42. Kelley told Ragan to be patient and take what
the track would give early in a run. |
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A multi-car wreck two laps later brought out the red flag. The race
was restarted on lap 50 with Ragan in the fourth position. Ragan
stated that he was not comfortable with the handling on short runs.
Kelley told Ragan to stay focused and race hard until the next caution.
Ragan was in the 20th position when the yellow flag waved on lap 88. |
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Upon entering the pit stall on lap 89, Kelley ordered four tires,
fuel and an air pressure adjustment. A great effort by the pit
crew allowed Ragan to gain three positions upon exiting the pit
stall. When green-flag racing resumed, Ragan used this momentum
to work through the field, climbing to 16th by lap 108.
A hard charging Ragan would stay in the 16th position for the next
10 laps before falling to 21st on lap 118. |
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The Ford Fusion had come alive the last 20 laps, but quickly turned
into an ill-handling race car by lap 123. Ragan commented the car
was very inconsistent during long runs; loose one minute and tight
the next. Ragan went a lap down on lap 159, but he stayed patient
until the caution flew again on lap 166. He was the recipient of the
"lucky dog." |
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Ragan made his final pit stop on lap 167. Kelley called for tires, fuel,
an air pressure adjustment and a spring rubber in the right rear. Another
great effort by the pit crew allowed Ragan to maintain the 19th position
when green-flag racing resumed on lap 171. |
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Ragan was able to gain one more position over the last 20 laps. The Discount
Tire team worked hard all day and came away with a solid top-20 finish. |
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"We had a rough day," said Ragan. "We tried everything and the car just
would not respond. I am proud of the Discount Tire team for doing their
best and working hard. I know days like this are tough for everybody, but
we did finish the race. We know we have a lot of ground to make up next
week, so we are going to focus on Daytona and put this one behind us." |
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The 18th-place finish leaves Ragan fourth in the Busch Series point standings.
Ragan and the team will return to action next Friday, July 6th at Daytona. |
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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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