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Ragan Pulls Off Impressive Top-10 at Watkins Glen |
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Watkins Glen, N.Y. (August 9, 2008)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion team shined when it mattered
most at Watkins Glen International on Saturday afternoon. The Discount Tire team
struggled mightily in practice on Friday and in qualifying, starting the race in
the 35 th position. The team led by crew chief Mike Kelley rallied during the race
to outsmart the competition, using a brilliant pit strategy to secure the team's
15 th top-10 finish of the year. |
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Ragan and the Discount Tire team started in the 35th position, but when the green
flag fell he blew through the back of the pack in just one lap to secure the 26 th
position. By lap 11 Ragan ran in the 24th position despite an ill-handling racecar.
Ragan commented his Ford Fusion was tight during right turns. A much needed caution
flew the very same lap for a wreck in turn seven. Kelley called Ragan to the pit stall
on lap 13 for minor adjustments. Kelley ordered four tires, fuel and a slight air pressure
adjustment in the right front. The Discount Tire pit crew got Ragan back on the track in
16 seconds. When green-flag racing resumed on lap 15 Ragan was in the 23 rd position. |
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For the next 25 laps Ragan battled through the stellar field, picking his spots to be
aggressive very carefully. It appeared Ragan wanted to take care of his equipment and
run a smart race. Ragan settled into the 19 th position by lap 37 despite two cautions
that slowed his momentum. On lap 41 the race was halted for a major wreck on the
front-stretch. It was the fourth caution of the day. Ragan was called to the pit stall
on lap 42 for adjustments. Kelley ordered four tires and fuel. Ragan was shown in the
21 st position when green-flag racing resumed on lap 44. |
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Things started to get interesting on lap 49 when the race was slowed for a debris caution.
Many teams made pit stops for fuel only on lap 51. Clearly, track position was key for the
Discount Tire team, so Kelley told Ragan to stay out during this period. Ragan restarted
the race in the sixth position on lap 53. Ragan ran in the top 10 for the next 20 laps, and
commented on lap 74 he was pushing his Ford Fusion to the limit. |
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The race took an interesting turn on lap 79 when the race leaders began to run out of fuel.
Kelley had gambled that Ragan could make it on fuel mileage due to the amount of cautions
since the last pit stop on lap 42. It was a gutsy call that proved to be correct at the end
of the day. Ragan cruised across the finish line three laps later with a remarkable ninth-place
finish. |
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"It was a good day for our Discount Tire team", said Ragan. "Our Ford Fusion
wasn't that great in practice and didn't qualify well at all. It just shows you that you can never
give up in this sport. It was kind of a long race today, and the Discount Tire team did a great job
on pit road and we had track position. All I had to do was drive a mistake-free race, and I probably
made a few mistakes out there somewhere, they just weren't big enough to cost us. I was absolutely
driving it as hard as I could, and just real fortunate that we avoided the big wreck on the front
straightaway. We were able to dodge the bullets and come away with a nice run." |
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The ninth-place finish leaves Ragan fifth in the Nationwide Series point standings. Ragan and the
team will return to action next Saturday, August 16 at Michigan 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 Sprint Cup with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle,
Carl Edwards and David Ragan; seven in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle,
Edwards, McMurray, Ragan, Erik Darnell and Colin Braun; and three in the Craftsman
Truck Series with Braun, Darnell and Joey Clanton; and one in the ARCA/REMAX Series
with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr.
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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