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Ragan Has Tough Day at Chicago |
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Joliet, Ill. (July 14, 2007)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team endured a
tough day in the USG Durock 300 at Chicagoland Speedway.
After a crash during qualifying, Ragan and the Discount
Tire team settled for a 19th place finish in a backup
car, but managed to move up one spot in the NASCAR Busch
Series point standings. |
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Ragan and the Discount Tire team started the race in the
rear of the field with thoughts of moving to the front
of the pack at a fast pace. An early wreck brought out
the caution on lap four. Crew chief Mike Kelley ordered
Ragan to the pits for fuel only. Ragan exited the pit
stall in the 37th position. On the restart on lap six,
Ragan quickly picked up three positions, passing cars
effortlessly. But on lap 18 Ragan commented the car was
free in the center. On lap 44 Ragan said the car was
pretty tight and the nose was sliding. |
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Ragan put the handling problems behind him, moving into
the 27th position by lap 57. |
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Ragan made a green-flag pit stop on lap 63. Upon entering
the pit stall, Kelley ordered four tires, fuel, and an air
pressure adjustment. The adjustments brought the Discount
Tire ford fusion back to life. Ragan moved into the 24th
position by lap 79. Ragan's momentum was slowed by a caution
on lap 80. Ragan was ordered to the pit stall right away
for fuel, four tires and a track bar adjustment. The Discount
Tire Ford Fusion came to life once again on the restart,
as Ragan gained four positions over the next 15 laps. |
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On lap 94 Ragan commented the car was a little free getting
in on long runs but good overall. The fourth caution of the
day flew on lap 95 with Ragan in the 22nd position. The race
went green on lap 99. Over the next 40 laps Ragan's lap times
were consistent with the race leaders. But the caution flew
yet again on lap 147. Ragan was called to the pit stall on lap
148. Kelley ordered four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
A great effort by the pit crew allowed Ragan to maintain the
20th position upon exiting the pit stall. |
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Ragan gained one more position over the last 50 laps. But in
the end Ragan and the Discount Tire team ran out of time to
catch the race leaders. |
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The 19th place finish was just enough to move Ragan into
fifth-place in the Busch Series point standings. |
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"We had a tough one today," said Ragan. "I put us in a bind
from the beginning. We brought a good car to Chicago, but I
made a mistake trying to push it to the limit during qualifying.
I have so much respect for the Discount Tire team for working
hard and never quitting today. It was a hard fought 19th place
finish." |
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The 19th-place finish leaves Ragan fifth in the Busch Series
point standings. Ragan and the team will return to action next
Saturday, July 21st at Gateway. |
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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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