NASCAR's David Ragan - From Boy To Superstar

To quote NEXTEL Cup driver Robert Pressley, afeatures. For someone so young, Ragan achieved a
family friend of the Ragan family "It's like there's alot in the short span of two years and went on to get
blood line down here with the Ragans and racing.more for himself. He gained experience working in
They're good. And whether you're in Legends, orCam Strader's Goodys Dash shop while on the tracks,
Busch, or NEXTEL cup, they take everything serioushe also worked on #6 NASCAR's Goodys Dash car.
and that's exactly right. If you take it serious, you'reOn several occasions, he tested the Dash car. Later
going to be successful." David Ragan, son of famedon, Ragan and Strader's team worked on two
Ken Ragan, was born on December 24, 1985 inNASCAR Late Models that was used by Ragan in
Unadilla, Georgia. The 6's father is a former Winston2002 during his first NASCAR series division. He
Cup journeyman so it does not faze NASCARcontinued to help Strader in the NASCAR Goodys
enthusiasts that the younger Ragan has the same fireDash, Busch and ARCA events and raced ten
for racing as his father. Ragan is currently the directorLegends events at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
of 600 Racing and was a former NEXTEL Cup driver.By the time he was 18 and eligible for NASCAR
During his career, Ken Ragan, made 50 Cup startsdivisions, he had driven for Mark Martin, won the "King
from 1982 to 1990. Ken Ragan also made five Buschof the Oval" thunder Roadster series championship
Series starts in 1982 and 1983.with the national title. Ragan became the youngest
The younger Ragan started racing when he was 11driver during Speedweeks in Daytona and he proved
years old at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in thehis nettle after getting a best finish of 2nd at the
Bandoleer Series in 1997. He has been blessed with ansubsequent ARCA/Remax series at Kentucky
extremely fruitful career ever since then. When heSpeedway. He gained a lot of experience when he
was 12 in 1998, he went on to win the Nationalqualified to compete in eight NASCAR Craftsman
Champion Bandoleer Bandits division under theTruck events the year he reached the minimum age
sponsorship of Rudy's Farm. At the Atlanta Motorlimit.
Speedway, he came in 2nd in the Thursday ThunderEven though he was a terror on the tracks, Ragan's
Series and won 12 Bandoleer features. From ages 13family made sure he was doing well in school. Ragan
to 14 (1999-2000), Ragan won the National Champion inwas a student at the Eagle's Landing High School
the Bandoleer Yu-Guns division, he came in 1st at thewhich subsequently led him to a place in the UNC
Wendy's Summer Shootout at the Lowes MotorMotorsports Engineering program. He balanced both his
Speedway, managed to grab 19 Bandoleer wins,professional and student life immaculately. Besides his
competed in Legends Cars, won the Young Lionsfather, Ragan looks up to Mark Martin on the track. He
division for the state of Georgia, the Semi-Proregards Martin as a mentor who has along the way,
Championship at Atlanta Motor Speedway, purchasedgiven him advice especially when he was preparing for
Nascar Goods Dash car and won 17 Legend Carhis shot in the Scotts truck.