NASCAR gives Ragan the OK to run Cup car at Texas
David Ragan has received NASCAR's approval to run at Nextel Cup tracks 1.5-miles and less and will attempt to qualify a No Fear Racing Ford Friday for the Dickies 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Roush Racing had sought to get Ragan approved to attempt his third Cup start last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but that approval was denied. NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said Tuesday afternoon that Ragan had been approved for Texas and would be under observation, standard procedure for drivers approved to advance to the next level.
Ragan's first Cup start came at Dover's 1-mile track and he raced two weeks ago at Martinsville, the sport's smallest venue. Ragan was involved in a handful of incidents in that race, prompting NASCAR to decline his participation at the Cup level at Atlanta.
Ragan did run the truck race at Atlanta, finishing sixth, and will run both the Cup and truck races this weekend. His Cup car will be entered by No Fear Racing, which is affiliated with Roush.
"I'm anxious to get back to Texas after our great run there in the spring," Ragan said of an eighth-place finish. "I made my first Craftsman Truck Series start and got my first top-10 finish at that speedway. Compared to some of the other tracks we go to, I've got a little more seat time there and I think that helps me some and will work in our favor."
He's even more excited to take the next step in his Cup career. He'll be in the No. 60 car this weekend and is slated to replace Mark Martin in Roush Racing's No. 6 Fusion next season.
"Texas is one of my favorite tracks we go to. I know we will have a good run in the truck so that will be some added confidence for the Cup efforts," Ragan said. "This will be a great time to get some true big-track experience in a Cup car at a fast mile-and-half track. It is experience like that will be very helpful going into the Nextel Cup Series next year."
