Rookie Ragan enjoys ride of his life
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The driver who replaced Mark Martin is the same driver who was overshadowed by Juan Pablo Montoya during qualifying for NASCAR’s 49th Daytona 500.
Meet David Ragan, whose introduction to Speedweeks 2007 at the Daytona International Speedway has been a blur. Ragan’s speed of 185.300 mph was fifth-fastest during time trials around the high-banked, 2.5-mile tri-oval Sunday.
Unfortunately for Ragan, fellow Nextel Cup Series rookie Montoya was a tick faster at 185.338 mph. A former Formula One star, Montoya stole the Raybestos Rookie of the Year headline with the day’s fourth-fastest overall speed.
“Yeah, I’m just ready to move onto the next task at hand,” said the unassuming Ragan, anticipating his front-row start alongside Daytona 500 pole-winner David Gilliland in the first Gatorade Duel 150-mile qualifying race Thursday. “I’m probably going to watch a copy of last year’s 150 – study up a little bit and be ready to go.”
Ragan, 21, was introduced last year as Martin’s successor in the No. 6 AAA Ford Fusion fielded by Roush Racing. And the native of Unadilla, Ga., admittedly still is getting used to seeing his name atop the driver’s door.
“Growing up, obviously, I’ve been a Mark Martin fan, Dale Jarrett fan,” said Ragan, the son of former Cup driver Ken Ragan. “And to say, ‘Man, am I really here racing with these guys now?’ It’s special, and it’s cool to think like that, but at the same time you realize how much hard work is really ahead of us.”
Ragan is paired with veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig, who guided Kurt Busch to the Cup title in 2004.
NASCAR mum on penalties
NASCAR officials continued to mull possible penalties Monday for Cup drivers Michael Waltrip, Matt Kenseth and Kasey Kahne – and their crew chiefs – for infractions discovered before and after Bud Pole qualifying Sunday.
Ramsey Poston, NASCAR’s managing director of corporate communications, indicated an announcement could be made either today or Wednesday.
Waltrip was cited for an unspecified “oily” substance inside the intake manifold of his No. 55 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota. The manifold is being studied at NASCAR’s Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C. Waltrip’s Camry was impounded after its qualification run and has been scheduled to be torn down here. David Hyder is crew chief.
The qualifying speeds of 2003 Cup champion Kenseth and Kahne, winner of a series-leading six poles and races last year, were disallowed after inspectors found unapproved aerodynamic devices on their cars.
Robbie Reiser is crew chief for Kenseth and Kenny Francis is team manager for Kahne.
Jim Hunter, NASCAR’s vice president of corporate communications, said Sunday he was surprised the infractions had surfaced in light of the fine and suspension slapped on crew chief Chad Knaus for a template violation found on Jimmie Johnson’s car here last year.
“We are committed to try to stop all the games being played,” Hunter said. “NASCAR is charged with maintaining the integrity in that garage area, and I think we’re going to do whatever we need to do to do that.”