David Ragan: NASCAR Driver Profile

Sometimes, racing is in the genes! This can be said for talented NASCAR driver, David Ragan. While he is the son of Winston cup driver, Ken Ragan, David is creating a name for himself in the sport of racing. Born on Christmas Eve, David Ragan is proving he is more than just a "gifted" driver!

The driver of the # 6 UPS Ford was born on December 24, 1985 and claims Unadilla, Georgia as his home. Ragan attended Jay M. Robinson High School and graduated in 2004.

In 1997, Ragan began his racing career at the age of 12 years old in the Bandolero Series. With his father as mentor, David proved he was a rare talent and by 1998, he had won twelve races and earned a National Championship. He won the National Championship again in 1999.

Ragan's racing instruction was more than just behind the wheel. He also worked in the shop of Cam Strader, Dash Series driver and participated in the Goody Dash Series. Ragan, still too young for NASCAR, was learning and working. He would work on the late model cars in the shop and then race them across the Southeast.

Young Ragan began driving for Mark Martin in the Legends Pro-Division and took fourth place in series points out of 60 hopefuls. Persistence paid off for Ragan. After turning 18, in 2004, he made his NASCAR debut at the Texas Motor Speedway driving for Fiddleback Racing. He also took the wheel for Day Enterprise Racing and Sadler Brothers Racing.

Ragan continued to race in select Craftsman Truck and Busch Series events as well as racing in some Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA) events. In his first ARCA start, Ragan finished second.

2005 was a career changing year for David Ragan. That year he won his first race at Lanier National Speedway. He also competed on the Discovery Channel TV Show, Roush Racing's: Driver X. While Erik Darnell was named winner of the competition, Ragan got some notice from Roush executives. In 2005, he was selected as co-driver with Mark Martin of Roush's Fenway Racing Ford 150. In the Ford, Ragan started 19 races and earned one pole and 8 to tens and 1 top five. By the end of 2006, Ragan was Roush's man for the # 6 Ford Fusion.

While considered to some to be a bit outspoken, Ragan was the total Ragan was the 2007 Sprint Cup Series Raybestos Rookie of the Year runner-up. Events that helped his standing included a top five finish in the 2007 Daytona 500 and the Richmond International. Racing Citicorp's # 17 Ford in a partial Nationwide Series schedule, Ragan finished the year ranked 4^th with 7 top five finishes and 21 top 10 finishes. Very few drivers could boast about these accomplishments. Also, Ragan turned heads when he almost made the Chase in his rookie.

In 2008, he continued to work and race hard. He had finished 13^th in series points. The 2009 racing season began with Ragan being sponsored by UPS, instead of AAA, for the Sprint Cup Series. Running a partial Nationwide Series schedule, Ragan earned victories at Talladega and at Bristol. Ragan was almost a shoe-in for the Chase, but issues throughout the season denied him that honor.

2010 will prove to be a restructuring year for young Ragan and Roush's # 6 Car team. He has a new crew chief, Donnie Wingo. So far in 2010, Ragan has taken part in 4 races, and hopes to revitalize his career and team.

Talented and focused, David Ragan is going to be a driver to watch in 2010. If you are a fan or want more information or updates on this young and talented driver, check out the following websites:

http://www.nascar.com/drivers/dps/dragan00/cup/

http://www.davidragan.com/home.cfm

http://www.nascar.com/2010/news/headlines/cup/02/05/dragan.dwingo.crew.chief/index.html