 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Ragan Survives Wild Busch Race at Phoenix |
|
|
|
|
|
Avondale, Ariz. (November 10, 2007)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team survived a wreck-fest
in the Arizona. Travel 200 NASCAR Busch Series race at Phoenix
International Raceway. Ragan and the team struggled with an
ill-handling Ford Fusion for much of the race, but were able
to come away with a 23rd-place finish. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Ragan, starting the race in the 12th position, wanted to be
aggressive early trying to gain valuable track position, but
handling problems starting on lap five prevented that from
happening. Ragan commented his Ford Fusion was "super loose."
Crew chief Mike Kelley told Ragan to do what he could to stay
out of trouble until the first series of pit stops. A wreck on
lap eight involving the No. 56 and the No. 72 brought out the
first caution of the day. Kelley ordered Ragan to stay out during
the caution. The caution flew two more times during an eight-lap
period that clearly frustrated Ragan and the Discount Tire team
because of the inability to get into a good race rhythm. |
|
|
|
|
|
Green-flag racing resumed on lap 16. Ragan struggled with an
ill-handling race car for the next 20 laps. Ragan commented
the car was tight rolling through the center and on exit. He
also said the front tires were sliding. On lap 43 a wreck in
turns three and four brought out the fourth caution of the day.
Kelley ordered Ragan to the pit stall on lap 44 for adjustments.
Kelley called for four tires, fuel, an air pressure adjustment
and a spring rubber in the right rear. Ragan exited the pit stall
in the 23rd position. |
|
|
|
|
|
The race was restarted on lap 49. Ragan continued to fight handling
problems, saying the car was tight early in a run then loose through
the corners. Ragan was able to maintain the 23rd position and
eventually gain a position over the next 40 laps. A long green-flag
run began on lap 49 and ended with a debris caution on lap 116.
Ragan was ordered to the pit stall on lap 117. Kelley called for
four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. The adjustments
brought the Discount Tire Ford Fusion back to life. On the restart
on lap 128, Ragan gained two positions in a five-lap span. The race
was slowed yet again on lap 133. Kelley told Ragan to stay out. A
move clearly made to gain valuable track position. Ragan was in the
17th position on the restart on lap 138. A violent pileup on the
frontstretch aborted the action. The race was then red-flagged for
a six-minute period. |
|
|
|
|
|
The race became a test of patience and perseverance. Ragan stayed in
the top 20 for much of the race, but was one lap down by lap 130.
During the latter part of the race, Ragan said the Ford Fusion was
handling nicely. It was evident the Discount Tire team had run out
of laps to challenge for a win. |
|
|
|
|
|
On the restart on lap 142, Ragan was in the 14th position. The
Discount Tire team felt good about its chances to crack the top
10, but a four-car wreck on lap 148 brought out the caution yet
again. Ragan and the Discount Tire team managed to stay in the
12th position for the next 40 laps, but on lap 189 the handling
problems returned, causing Ragan to lose a few positions. On lap
198, Ragan got caught up in a four-car wreck on the frontstretch.
The race was red-flagged again for 11 minutes. The Discount Tire
Ford Fusion was damaged badly, but a stellar effort by the pit
crew allowed Ragan to finish the race. |
|
|
|
|
|
"Our car was okay at times and wasn't okay at times," said Ragan.
"It was a really weird day for us. We practiced good, qualified average
and started the race and it was really tight. We made an adjustment and
it was really loose on us. It was back and forth and we really didn't
know which way to go. I didn't really know what I needed to be better.
We rode around in the top 15 there and then there at the end; we probably
should have gotten tires. When you're riding on the edge and you stay out
on tires it makes it tough. Then we fell back where all the lapped cars
were racing hard and we kind of got what we asked for racing back in the
back. I saw the No. 25 [Richard Johns] and everybody wrecking in front
of me and as soon as I could get off the throttle, I had already run over
whoever that was in front of me. I hate that we got involved in all that
junk but that's kind of what we deserved for being back there. We certainly
wished we could have got that top 15 or top 10, but it wasn't meant to be.
We weren't good enough today." |
|
|
|
|
|
The 23rd-place finish leaves Ragan fifth in the Busch Series point standings.
Ragan and the team will return to action next Saturday, November 17th at
Homestead-Miami Speedway for the final race of the 2007 season. |
|
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
Go to: |
|
|
DTC Motorsports Home for the Latest Racing News |
|
|
or |
|
|
The Racing News Archive to read previously featured stories. |
|
|
|
|
