AUTO RACING: Ragan views 2009 Nationwide win at BMS as a confidence booster

CONCORD, N.C.
The heat was on David Ragan at Bristol Motor Speedway last August.

And for 56 tense laps in the Food City 250, the homespun Georgia native made all the right moves. With four Sprint Cup regulars closing in, Ragan avoided trouble and protected both the inside and outside race grooves.

Ragan then capped his second career NASCAR Nationwide Series victory by executing a flawless restart on a green-white-checkered-flag finish. Carl Edwards, Ragan’s more experienced and celebrated teammate at Roush Fenway Racing, finished second.

“To win at Bristol…that was big,” said Ragan during Tuesday’s NASCAR Sprint Media Tour hosted by Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Bristol is a track that I grew up watching as a young kid and really enjoyed. I just grew up as a fan of Bristol.”

The Food City 250 at BMS may not have ranked as a career-defining moment for Ragan. But it did serve as affirmation for a humble driver who was ripped by fans and fellow drivers during his accident-filled rookie Sprint Cup rookie season in 2007. Tony Stewart once referred to Ragan as a “dart with no feathers.”

“To get to Bristol and see what kind of physical track it is, and finally beat one of our teammates to the win was big for my family and my confidence,” Ragan said. “We just need to go back and do it again someday.”

No person was happier for Ragan last August than his father. Ken Ragan never enjoyed the financial support of a powerful owner like Jack Roush, but he managed to make 50 starts at the top level of NASCAR from 1982 to 1990.

With the enthusiastic support of his father, David Ragan acquired the love of speed at age 11 when he made his racing debut in the entry-level Bandolero cars. Ken Ragan, who carefully groomed his son’s career, was at Bristol for the landmark victory.

“Dad was happy for me,” Ragan said. “To win at a short track is awesome, and to have my father there made it even better. My family doesn’t come to all the races, but it was cool that he was there for that win. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Ragan said he learned the importance of sacrifice and persistence from his father’s career.

“I watched dad race some as a kid and we’ve got a pretty cool relationship,” said Ragan, who also won the Nationwide race at Talladega last season. “We don’t do the emotional father-and-son type things, but it was great to have dad around at the track in Bristol and see him as pleased as he was after our win.”

After his runner-up finish at BMS, Edwards offered praise for the savvy driving style and unflappable personality of Ragan. Ragan managed to pin Edwards behind a lapped car on the final two laps.

The conquest of BMS helped soothe the sting of a woeful Sprint Cup season for Ragan. He finished 27th in points with just two top-10s.

“I spent a lot of nights just wondering what was going on,” Ragan said.

Despite his struggles, Ragan was somehow able to maintain his trademark smile and easy-going nature.

“I guess it’s just that southern boy or southern guy in me,” Ragan said. “Maybe it’s my granddad rubbing off on me.”

Ragan related a family story that illustrates how the Ragans are able deal with adversity and focus on the bright side of life.

“I was riding around with my granddad one day when we ran out of gas,” Ragan said. “This was like 15 years ago and we didn’t have a cell phone. I asked granddad what we were going to do, and he just said he was going to take a relax and take a nap until somebody came by. He didn’t worry about too much.”

Ragan has come to accept ups and downs in his fickle sport. Breakthrough victories are meant to be savored, but there is always another challenge on the next lap.

“I grew up some last year, and I had to learn when to be vocal and when not to be,” Ragan said. “You just have to take things in stride. I’m ready to get back to the race track and show everybody what I can do.”

agregory@bristolnews.com (276) 645-2544