NASCAR's David Ragan - From Boy to Superstar

To quote NEXTEL Cup driver Robert Pressley, afeatures. For someone so young, David 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
blood line down here with the Ragans and racing.get more for himself. He gained experience working
They're good. And whether you're in Legends, orin Cam Strader's Goodys Dash shop while on the
Busch, or NEXTEL cup, they take everything serioustracks, he also worked on #6 NASCAR's Goodys
and that's exactly right. If you take it serious, you'reDash car. On several occasions, he tested the Dash
going to be successful." David, son of famed Kencar. Later on, David and Strader's team worked on
Ragan, was born on December 24, 1985 in Unadilla,two NASCAR Late Models that was used by him in
Georgia. The 6's father is a former Winston Cup2002 during his first NASCAR series division. He
journeyman so it does not faze NASCAR enthusiastscontinued to help Strader in the NASCAR Goodys
that the younger Ragan has the same fire for racingDash, Busch and ARCA events and raced ten
as his father. Ragan is currently the director of 600Legends events at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
Racing and was a former NEXTEL Cup driver. DuringBy the time he was 18 and eligible for NASCAR
his career, Ken Ragan, made 50 Cup starts fromdivisions, he had driven for Mark Martin, won the
1982 to 1990. Ken also made five Busch Series starts"King of the Oval" thunder Roadster series
in 1982 and 1983.championship with the national title. David Ragan
The younger Ragan started racing when he was 11became the youngest driver during Speedweeks in
years old at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in theDaytona and he proved his nettle after getting a
Bandoleer Series in 1997. He has been blessed with anbest finish of 2nd at the subsequent ARCA/Remax
extremely fruitful career ever since then. When heseries at Kentucky Speedway. He gained a lot of
was 12 in 1998, he went on to win the Nationalexperience when he qualified to compete in eight
Champion Bandoleer Bandits division under theNASCAR Craftsman Truck events the year he
sponsorship of Rudy's Farm. At the Atlanta Motorreached the minimum age limit.
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. He was
to 14 (1999-2000), David won the National Championa student at the Eagle's Landing High School which
in the Bandoleer Yu-Guns division, he came in 1st atsubsequently led him to a place in the UNC
the Wendy's Summer Shootout at the Lowes MotorMotorsports Engineering program. He balanced both
Speedway, managed to grab 19 Bandoleer wins,his professional and student life immaculately. Besides
competed in Legends Cars, won the Young Lionshis father, David looks up to Mark Martin on the
division for the state of Georgia, the Semi-Protrack. He regards Martin as a mentor who has along
Championship at Atlanta Motor Speedway, purchasedthe way, given him advice especially when he was
Nascar Goods Dash car and won 17 Legend Carpreparing for his shot in the Scotts truck.