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 familylot in the short span of two years and went on to
"It's like there's a blood line down here with theget more for himself. He gained experience working
Ragans and racing. They're good. And whether you'rein Cam Strader's Goodys Dash shop while on the
in Legends, or Busch, or NEXTEL cup, they taketracks, he also worked on #6 NASCAR's Goodys
everything serious and that's exactly right. If youDash car. On several occasions, he tested the Dash
take it serious, you're going to be successful." Davidcar. Later on, Ragan and Strader's team worked on
Ragan, son of famed Ken Ragan, was born ontwo NASCAR Late Models that was used by Ragan
December 24, 1985 in Unadilla, Georgia. The 6's fatherin 2002 during his first NASCAR series division. He
is a former Winston Cup journeyman so it does notcontinued to help Strader in the NASCAR Goodys
faze NASCAR enthusiasts that the younger RaganDash, Busch and ARCA events and raced ten
has the same fire for racing as his father. Ragan isLegends events at Lowe's Motor Speedway.
currently the director of 600 Racing and was aBy the time he was 18 and eligible for NASCAR
former NEXTEL Cup driver. During his career, Kendivisions, he had driven for Mark Martin, won the
Ragan, made 50 Cup starts from 1982 to 1990. Ken"King of the Oval" thunder Roadster series
Ragan also made five Busch Series starts in 1982 andchampionship with the national title. Ragan became
1983.the youngest driver during Speedweeks in Daytona
The younger Ragan started racing when he was 11and he proved his nettle after getting a best finish of
years old at the Atlanta Motor Speedway in the2nd at the subsequent ARCA/Remax series at
Bandoleer Series in 1997. He has been blessed with anKentucky Speedway. He gained a lot of experience
extremely fruitful career ever since then. When hewhen he qualified to compete in eight NASCAR
was 12 in 1998, he went on to win the NationalCraftsman Truck events the year he reached the
Champion Bandoleer Bandits division under theminimum age limit.
sponsorship of Rudy's Farm. At the Atlanta MotorEven though he was a terror on the tracks, Ragan's
Speedway, he came in 2nd in the Thursday Thunderfamily made sure he was doing well in school. Ragan
Series and won 12 Bandoleer features. From ages 13was a student at the Eagle's Landing High School
to 14 (1999-2000), Ragan won the National Championwhich subsequently led him to a place in the UNC
in the Bandoleer Yu-Guns division, he came in 1st atMotorsports Engineering program. He balanced both
the Wendy's Summer Shootout at the Lowes Motorhis professional and student life immaculately. Besides
Speedway, managed to grab 19 Bandoleer wins,his father, Ragan looks up to Mark Martin on the
competed in Legends Cars, won the Young Lionstrack. He regards Martin as a mentor who has along
division for the state of Georgia, the Semi-Prothe way, given him advice especially when he was
Championship at Atlanta Motor Speedway, purchasedpreparing for his shot in the Scotts truck.
Nascar Goods Dash car and won 17 Legend Car