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Ragan Holds on for Top-20 Finish in Tough Race at ORP |
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Clermont, Ind. (July 28, 2007)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team performed admirably under
the lights in the Kroger 200 at O'reilly Raceway Park on Saturday night.
The team had an up and down run on a night when their Ford Fusion was
one of the best cars in the field. Ragan, pulling double duty in both
series, did not make it for practice or qualifying, shuttling from
Indianapolis Motor Speedway; site of Sunday's NASCAR Nextel Cup series
race. The NASCAR Nextel Cup practice and qualifying schedule changed due
to inclement weather on Friday and Saturday. Ragan had to start in the
rear of the field. He then managed to recover from an early accident to
bring home an average 18th place finish. |
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The NASCAR Busch Series Kroger 200 was an entertaining race that put many
drivers' skills to the test from the outset. It only took 14 laps to
bring out the caution. Ragan was poised to pick his way through the
pack early and make a run towards the front at the midway point of the
race. On lap 38 Ragan climbed from the rear of the pack to the 22nd
position. But as the Ford Fusion came to life Ragan commented the car
was tight rolling through the center. On lap 44 Ragan was tapped in the
rear by the No. 22 driven by Josh Wise. Ragan's Ford Fusion spun out and
hit the wall, suffering extensive damage to the deck lid. Ragan brought
the Discount Tire Ford Fusion into the pits on lap 45. Crew chief Mike
Kelley ordered the crew to assess and work on the damaged deck lid.
Kelley also ordered four tires, an air pressure adjustment and fuel.
But the fuel line was damaged and was unable to take gas. Ragan exited
the pit stall one lap down in the 36th position. The race went green on
lap 50. |
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Ragan appeared to be in a great rhythm over the next 18 laps, gaining
five positions, until a multi-car wreck on lap 68 brought out the third
caution of the night. Ragan got the "lucky dog" on lap 72. Kelley ordered
Ragan to the pit stall on the same lap for more work on the deck lid.
Ragan exited the pits in the 27th position. |
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The race went green on lap 73. Ragan moved into the 23rd position by lap
93 and appeared poised for a hard charge through the field. Unfortunately
the caution flew again on lap 94, negating any opportunity to move through
the field. |
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Ragan made his third and most important pit stop of the day on lap 95. The
Discount Tire pit crew was able to fix the deck lid and the damaged fuel
line. Kelley also ordered four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment.
A great effort by the pit crew allowed Ragan to gain two spots upon exiting
the pit stall. Green-flag racing resumed on lap 100. |
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Over the next 30 laps Ragan patiently worked his way through the field,
moving into the 19th position by lap 137. On lap 138 the Ford Fusion got
very loose. Ragan was instructed by crew chief Mike Kelley to drive
cautiously until he could make adjustments on the next pit stop. A much
needed caution flew on lap 139. |
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Ragan made his final pit stop on lap 140. Kelley ordered four tires, fuel
and a track bar adjustment. The adjustments proved to be the right move as
Ragan was able to secure the 18th position for much of the final 60 laps. |
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"Certainly, we felt like we had the car to win. Erik Darnell did a great
job in practice and qualifying. When you start from the back, if you
don't have a perfect night it just makes it hard. Carl Edwards and the
99 (David Reutimann) had the perfect night. After the 22 spun us out,
we were in the back with poor track position all night. We had to stop
a couple of extra times because our Discount Tire Ford Fusion wouldn't
take gas because the trunk deck was beat-up. We lost a lot of track
position every pit stop. If we could have started up front, we had the
car that could have won. It's just one of those nights. We salvaged
something; we didn't lose any ground. We certainly had this night that
we could content for the win and we failed to do so." |
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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 Saturday, August 4th at Circuit Giles Villeneuve. |
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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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