Geoff Smith, head of Roush Racing, “We are committed to a rookie in the (#6) car. There are tremendous long-term business advantages to doing a program with a rookie, if the rookie can get the job done. And we expect any of our rookies to get the job done. We have been able to put four of our Gong Show drivers in rides this year to scrutinize them: Todd [Kluever]; David Ragan, splitting duties with Mark in Trucks; Erik Darnell, rookie-of-the-year leader in Trucks; and Danny O’Quinn. “One of those guys will be in the six [Cup car]. And by the time we get to Kansas City, we have to be done. We haven’t had home runs out of the box with all four, but David and Erik have done extremely well. And Danny and David are only 20 years old. So we feel very good about where we are.” Smith said he and Roush have thus canceled this year’s Gong Show.(Winston Salem Journal), look for David Ragan to run the #06 Ford in the Dover Cup race.(9-18-2006)
UPDATE: Ragan to attempt Dover Cup race in the #06: Roush Racing announced that David Ragan will attempt to make his first attempt at a Nextel Cup Series start in the #06 Ford this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Ragan is currently competing in the Craftsman Truck Series. “I’ve looked forward to this day for a long time,” said Ragan. “I never thought that the day would come this soon. It just goes to show that hard work and determination really can pay off. I have gotten a lot of racing experience in the Craftsman Truck Series that will help race with the guys in the Nextel Cup Series. I’m looking forward to working with Frank Stoddard and the #06 Ford team.” Ragan will also make his second Busch Series start of the 2006 season in the #50 Barr-Nunn Ford when he competes in the Dover 200 on Saturday. “This is an awesome opportunity to get some more experience in the NASCAR Busch Series,” said Ragan. “The guys with the #50 team had a great run with Danny O’Quinn here in the spring. It’s a really good opportunity to get some valuable seat time to help me get familiar with Dover. I’ve never raced here so every lap I make is really going to help me.”
“I see a lot of potential in these young drivers,” said Jack Roush. “This will give us an opportunity to evaluate David Ragan and it will also give him valuable experience running in both series at Dover. Dover International Speedway is a very challenging track, but I know David will perform to the best of his ability.”(Roush Racing PR)(9-19-2006)
