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Ragan Has Uneventful Day at Michigan |
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Brooklyn, Mich. (August 18, 2007)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team had a disappointing
end to a promising weekend in the Carfax 250 at Michigan
International Speedway. After great efforts in each practice
session on Friday and qualifying third Saturday morning, Ragan
looked to cap off the weekend with his first win of the year.
But fighting an ill-handling race car all day proved to be tougher
than expected for Ragan and the team. Ragan managed to finish the
race and bring home a respectable 21st-place finish. |
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The Discount Tire team was very confident they had the race car
to beat from the outset of the race. This confidence turned into
concern almost as soon as the race began. Ragan said the car was
free getting into the corners and tight on exit as early as lap
seven. By lap 15 Ragan said he felt like the Ford Fusion was
losing air pressure in the right rear. Ragan lost 13 positions
over the first 20 laps. This was not the start the team had
envisioned but there was a lot of determination left in Ragan
and the Discount Tire team. The second caution of the day flew
on lap 26 when Roush Fenway Racing teammate Carl Edwards spun
out. Crew chief Mike Kelley called Ragan to the pits immediately
for major adjustments. Upon entering the pit stall on lap 26 Kelley
ordered four tires, fuel, an air pressure adjustment in the right
rear and a spring rubber out of the left rear. |
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Ragan exited the pits in 20th place. On the restart on lap 29,
Ragan commented the front end did not work under throttle. He
also commented it felt like he was losing more air pressure each
lap. The frustration had set in for Ragan, but his fortunes turned
when the third caution of the day flew a few laps later. Ragan made
his second pit stop of the day on lap 34. Kelley ordered four tires,
fuel and a track bar adjustment. Ragan exited the pits in 33rd position.
By lap 38 the Discount Tire Ford Fusion had come back to life. |
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The car roared through the pack over the next 30 laps picking off
good race cars one by one. Ragan climbed to the 19th position by lap
75. Kelley commented that he was the fastest car on the track during
that period. Ragan's momentum was slowed by a green-flag pit stop on
lap 81. Kelley ordered four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment.
Ragan exited the pit stall in the 24th position, one lap down. By lap
111 Ragan had climbed back to the 19th position, but he commented the
car was getting tighter by the lap. The race stayed green the final 14
laps. Ragan was able to hold on for a 21st place finish. |
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"We had a very frustrating day," said Ragan. "The Discount Tire team
prepared a great race car for me this weekend, but as soon as the green
flag dropped the car did not respond to anything we tried to do. By the
time we figured it out we had already dug ourselves a hole and there
were a number of other good cars running very well. We tried to make
a run at the top 15 but we just ran out of time." |
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The 21st-place finish leaves Ragan fifth in the Busch Series point standings.
Ragan and the team will return to action next Friday, August 24th at Bristol. |
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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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