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David Ragan makes first start at Watkins Glen International |
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Watkins Glen, N.Y. (August 11, 2007)
Although the Zippo 200 was David Ragan's first NASCAR event at
Watkins Glen International, it was the third road course race
for the Busch Series in 2007. Ragan's previous finishes at
Mexico City and Montreal were 14th and 19th respectively, so
he hoped to improve on those this weekend at The Glen. |
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The starting line up for the field was determined following
NASCAR road race qualifying on Saturday afternoon. Ragan was
assigned to the fourth group, but flat spotted his tires going
through the bus stop which forced his team to change tires prior
to the race, sending Ragan to the back of the field. |
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The green flag dropped at 3:52pm EST with Ragan in the 39th
position. Only a couple of laps into the race the No. 1 car
driven by Max Papis blew a motor bringing out the caution.
Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team took this opportunity
to come into the pits and top off the fuel tank. He restarted
in 36th position. |
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The field stayed green for nearly 30 laps during which time
most of the field was forced to pit under green for fuel.
This allowed Ragan to move up to 10th position. The caution
flew yet again on lap 37 with Ragan running in the 19th position. |
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Ragan radioed his team to let them know his Ford Fusion was a
little free in the back end and through the center of the
corners. But he also said he wanted to make sure not to do
anything that would hurt the front end since it was handling
pretty well. |
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Ragan came down pit road on lap 39 for four tires, fuel and
an air pressure adjustment and headed back out in the 19th spot. |
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The third caution of the day came a few laps later for debris.
Ragan came back into the pits for fresh tires, fuel and a
second air pressure adjustment to help the front end cut a
little better. |
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When Ragan reentered the field in 22nd position, crew chief
Mike Kelley informed him that they were good to go to the
end and would not have to come back in for fuel. |
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On lap 65 Ragan was running in the 23rd spot and battling the
No. 35 car for position. He thought he was clear and when he
realized that he wasn't he ended up running off of the track
and into the gravel to avoid a wreck. |
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This incident forced him to come into the pits for tires. Ragan
was able to remain on the lead lap and restart in 22nd spot. |
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On lap 75 Ragan radioed to the team that his car was really
tight and the front end was not cutting very well, but with
only seven laps to go Ragan was forced to finish the race
with an ill handling race car. He crossed the finish line
in 21st position. |
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"It was average," said Ragan. "We were just out here making
laps, trying to take care of our Discount Tire Ford Fusion.
Hopefully it will help me some tomorrow, making laps today.
We just didn't have the speed we needed and we didn't have
the track position all day. If we could've been faster, we
could've gotten the track position. But we just kind of rode
all day. I drove as hard as I could, but I wouldn't take a
risk in tearing up the transmission doing something crazy.
There was a good group of road racers today. I learned a
lot, but I've still got a lot to learn on these road courses.
But to come out of here on the lead lap without a scratch on
the car is a decent run for us, we expect a little better though." |
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Ragan is currently fifth in the NASCAR Busch Series point
standings and is first in the Busch Series Raybestos Rookie
of the Year race. |
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Ragan and the team will return to action next Saturday,
August 18th at Michigan International Speedway at 3:00pm EST. |
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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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