Ragan headlines a star studded field of Super Late Model drivers
heading to the Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA for the Pro
All Stars Series (PASS) South's first visit to the speedway. The
April 26th race at Watermelon Capital marks a homecoming for Ragan who
grew up in nearby Unadilla, GA. Ragan will race in the NASCAR
Nationwide Series race at Talladega, AL early in the day, fly to
Cordele for the Watermelon 125 and then it's back to Talladega for
Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.
"It feels good to come back and race for fun," said Ragan.
"Logistically, Talladega and Watermelon Capital Speedway are pretty
close and it works out in the schedule for that weekend. Anytime you
can race in front of family and friends it's always special."
At just 22 years of age David Ragan decided to follow his father Ken,
a veteran of 50 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, into the racing
business. He has already had a fair share of success. In 2007 Ragan
finished in the top five in the Daytona 500, had a best finish of
third at the Richmond (VA) International Raceway, and won the NASCAR
Nationwide Series Rookie-of-the-Year award,
Despite Ragan's meteoric rise to the top level of stock car racing, he
has spent little time behind the wheel of a Super Late Model. Ragan
moved fairly quickly from Legends and Thunder Roadsters to ARCA,
largely bypassing the fastest full fendered short track race cars.
"I spent some time racing Super Late Models in the summer of
2003 but I turned 18 shortly after that and started racing ARCA," said
Ragan.
With his busy schedule of Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series
races driving for car owner Jack Roush, David has had little time to
race with PASS or any other touring divisions. Thanks to help from
some of his old short track racing friends, David doesn't have to
worry about what he will be driving in the PASS South Series
Watermelon 125.
"I'm driving Casey Roderick's Super Late Model," said Ragan.
He's 16 years old and a friend of ours. I actually flew home Sunday
after [the Sprint Cup race at] Phoenix and practiced, so at least I
got some time in the car prior to the race."
In addition to Ragan, some of Georgia and the nation's best
have committed to the PASS South Watermelon 125. Bubba Pollard,
coming off a Super Late Model win in Alabama, Michael Pope, Justin
Wakefield, and Bill Elliott development driver Mitch Cobb are just a
few of the drivers with Georgia connections hoping for a win in the
Peach State. Those drivers plus PASS South points leader Corey
Williams, teen standouts Zach Stroupe and John Stancill, Kyle Busch
development driver Alex Haase, and many more are all expected for the
inaugural Watermelon 125.
Gates open Saturday April 26 at 11:00 AM.PASS South Super
Late Model practice gets underway ay 2:00 PM and qualifying gets the
green flag at 4:30 PM. Qualifying rounds and feature racing starts at
6:30 PM and the green flag is set to drop on the Watermelon 125 at
approximately 8:30 PM. Watermelon Capital Speedway is located in
Cordele, GA at exit 104 just off Interstate 75.
For information on all five PASS racing divisions, visit
www.proallstarsseries.com ; the PASS South web site can be found at
www.racewithpass.com . Watermelon Capital Speedway is on line at
www.watermeloncapitalspeedway.com
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