Ragan Earns 15th Top-10 of the Season at Phoenix
November 15, 20093:14 PM
Avondale, Ariz. (November 14, 2009) – David Ragan and the No. 6 Discount Tire Ford Fusion team were primed for a great run in the Able Body Labor 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. After qualifying in the ninth position, Ragan showed patience and poise throughout the race, working his way to the front to claim a sixth-place finish. It was Ragan’s 15th top-10 of the 2009 season.
It was a somber day for Ragan and the Discount Tire team. This was the final race of the season for Ragan in the Discount Tire Ford Fusion and last race with Discount Tire Co. as a primary sponsor for Ragan in the Nationwide Series. Ragan eyed a victory in the Able Body Labor 200. Ragan was solid in practice and qualifying and looked to carry that momentum over into the race. Ragan maneuvered through the field the first 30 laps of the race and cracked the top five on lap 22. Ragan was not done yet. He took the fourth spot away from Mike Bliss on lap 77, before a caution slowed his momentum. Crew chief Dan Stillman ordered Ragan to the pits for fuel, four fresh tires and a minor air pressure adjustment. The Discount Tire pit crew performed admirably and got Ragan out of the pits in the fourth position. Green-flag racing resumed on lap 83.
Ragan had a hard time getting into a rhythm during a 20 lap span that saw four cautions and a red-flag that halted the race for an extended period of time. Ragan commented his Ford Fusion was tight through the center and loose on exit. As the race picked up steam, Ragan ran in the seventh position as he used a very cerebral approach to combat the slight handling problems. Ragan replaced all out aggression with poise and patience.
Ragan realized time was running out on his chances at a win. Through brilliant pit stops and race strategy down the stretch, Ragan secured the fifth position by lap 179. Ragan was within striking distance, but race leader and Roush Fenway Racing teammate ran away with the race, leading the most laps and winning in dominant fashion. Ragan brought his Ford Fusion home without a scratch claiming a sixth-place finish.
“Our Discount Tire team did an outstanding job today,” said Ragan. “We passed a lot of cars and made it interesting at the end of the race, but we just didn’t have enough to put pressure on the top five. Carl was dominant today and I salute him for getting his 25th career Nationwide win.”
About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is NASCAR’s largest team operating nine motorsports teams. Five in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with drivers Matt Kenseth, Jamie McMurray, Greg Biffle, Carl Edwards and David Ragan; three in the Nationwide Series with Kenseth, Biffle, Edwards, Ragan, Erik Darnell, Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Colin Braun; and one in the Camping World Truck Series with Braun. 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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