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Ragan Secures a Top-10 Finish in Unbelievable Race at Bristol |
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Bristol, Tenn. (August 24, 2007)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team excelled in one of
the best Busch Series races in Bristol Motor Speedway history.
There were 11 cautions throughout the event with nine lead changes
among six different drivers. The first Busch Series event on Bristol's
new concrete surface was as good as advertised with many three-wide
battles throughout the race. Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire Ford
Fusion took advantage of the many racing grooves and worked through
the field to claim an unbelievable sixth-place finish. |
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The NASCAR Busch Series Food City 250 was an entertaining race from
the outset with many of NASCAR's elite drivers bouncing around the
racing order the first 15 laps. Ragan started the race in the 21st
position but quickly gained two spots the first few laps. The first
caution of the night flew on lap 16. Ragan had very little to say in
the beginning of the race because he was trying to get a feel for the
car's handling. On lap 42, Ragan commented the Ford Fusion was tight
center off and had no cutting ability through the center. Crew chief
Mike Kelley told Ragan that major adjustments were going to be made
on the first pit stop. A much needed caution flew on lap 51 with Ragan
in the 19th position. Upon entering the pit stall on lap 53 Kelley
ordered four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. An average
pit stop left Ragan in the 30th position on the restart on lap 61. |
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The next 15 laps were a struggle for Ragan and the Discount Tire team.
Ragan dealt with serious handling problems, but managed to gain four
positions during that period. The caution flew again on lap 76, but
Kelley told Ragan to stay out and take advantage of track position.
On the restart on lap 84, Ragan had moved into the 11th position.
The caution flew two more times over the next 30 laps because of
multi-car wrecks. It was obvious the Discount Tire team was frustrated
with the lack of green-flag racing. |
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The No. 6 Discount Tire team made its second and most important pit
stop of the day on lap 120 taking four tires, fuel, an air pressure
adjustment and a track bar adjustment. The changes made proved to be
the difference in the race. The race went green on lap 125 with Ragan
in the 25th position. The Discount Tire Ford Fusion came to life on
lap 138 and Ragan found himself in the top five for the first time
on lap 169. Ragan showed off his poise and patience over the next
20 laps, fighting through multiple wrecks and serious challenges
from some of the best drivers in all of NASCAR. By lap 204 the caution
had flown 10 times. Ragan and the Discount Tire team elected not to
pit on any of the cautions, a gamble that paid off at the end of the
race. Ragan sat in the third position after the final caution on lap
213. Ragan managed to stay in the top five for most of the remaining
laps and bring home a sixth-place finish. Ragan claimed his fourth
top-five finish of the year along with Rookie of the Race honors. |
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"This gives us confidence for tomorrow," said Ragan. "Bristol is a
tough track and we beat some good drivers, so hat's off to the team
for preparing a great car. We were around a lot of wrecks and didn't
hit anything, so we're just happy to be here and happy to bring it
home in the top 10." |
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The sixth-place finish leaves Ragan fifth in the Busch Series point
standings. Ragan and the team will return to action Saturday,
September 1st at California Speedway. |
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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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