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Ragan Has Up and Down Night at Homestead |
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Homestead, Fla (November 17, 2007)
David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team had a tough end to
a promising day at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The young team won
the pole for the Ford 300 NASCAR Busch Series race on Saturday
afternoon car but finished 33rd after an unfortunate spin and
blown tire on lap 169. Ragan was leading the race at the time
of the accident but the Ford Fusion was damaged beyond repair.
Ragan still captured the Rookie-of-the-Year crown and a lot of
adulation from his peers in the NASCAR Busch Series. |
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Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire team wanted a win so bad they
could taste it. Ragan was instructed by crew chief Mike Kelley
to take care of his race car and go after a win with controlled
aggression. It was clear that Ragan was doing just that, running
in the top five for the first 25 laps of the race. Ragan hit his
marks early on and was among the fastest in the field every lap. |
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Ragan and the team made their first pit stop under caution on lap
26. Crew chief Mike Kelley ordered four tires and fuel. Upon exiting
the pit stall Ragan was in the 20th position. Many of the race leaders
pit at the same time, leaving them in the middle of the pack on the
restart on lap 30. |
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On lap 37, Ragan commented his Ford Fusion was a little free. Ragan
still managed to gain eight positions over the next 10 laps. Ragan
did not let the handling problems deter his quest for a great run.
On lap 44, the caution flew for the fourth time of the afternoon when
the No. 42 driven by open-wheel star Dario Franchitti wrecked in turn
four. The race had a 35 lap green-flag run that allowed Ragan and the
Discount Tire team to climb back in the top 10. Amazingly, during the
green-flag run Ragan fought an ill-handling race car. Ragan commented
his Ford Fusion was free into the center and tight off. The caution
flew yet again on lap 85. On lap 86, Ragan was ordered to the pits for
adjustments. Kelley called for fuel, four tires and a track bar adjustment.
Ragan exited the pit stall in the ninth position. Green-flag racing resumed
on lap 90. The caution flew three more times the next 15 laps. |
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Ragan stayed in the top 10 for much of the race. On lap 112, a two-car
wreck involving the No. 12 driven b Sam Hornish Jr. and the No. 03 driven
by Todd Bodine. The race went green on lap 120. But a debris caution two
laps later halted the action once again. When green-flag racing resumed
on lap 126 Ragan was in the seventh position. |
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When the sun went down the Discount Tire Ford Fusion came to life. Ragan
took advantage of a 30 lap green-flag run, gaining five positions and
challenging for the lead with 30 laps to go in the race. But on lap 169
during a green-flag cycle of pit stops, Ragan spun off of turn four,
dashing his hopes for break-through win. Ragan tried to make it around
the track, but blew a tire and damaged most of the right side of his race
car. The Ford Fusion was damaged beyond repair. |
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Ragan claimed the 2007 NASCAR Busch Series Rookie-of-the-Year title. |
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"I wish we could have had a little better night tonight," said Ragan.
"We had a great Discount Tire Ford Fusion. I would have been a lot better
to end the night with a top five, possibility a win. This is what we set
out to do in the springtime. This was one of our goals this year to finish
in the top-10 in points and win rookie of the year. And we finished fifth
in points and won rookie of the year. Two of the three we got to cross off.
I'm a little disappointed that we didn't win a race this year, but we were
pretty close a few times. But that gives us something to look forward to next
year." |
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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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