David Ragan, who has driven Roush’s #6 Sprint Cup car for the past five seasons and who already knew the car’s current sponsor, UPS, would cut back its involvement in 2012, more than likely won’t return. “My expectation right now is that I don’t see having something for David next year,” Roush said. “We aren’t far enough along … There are some discussions ongoing but they aren’t far enough along that I would put more than a 40% chance of having something for David.” Ragan’s #6 program was the enigma, despite being in a position to win the Daytona 500, winning the non-points Sprint Showdown and then scoring Ragan’s first points-paying victory, at Daytona in July. “David Ragan was a frustration and a disappointment for all of us,” Roush said, “because he was not able to realize the potential that he had, given what his skill is and what the expectations of the sponsor were, and what the performance that was being demonstrated in the car, and what the engineering package was.” Roush said he had not yet decided if the #6 — which would be a guaranteed starter beginning the 2012 season based on its 23rd position in the final 2011 owners’ standings — would run in the Daytona 500. Roush said he hoped to put Ragan’s crew chief, Drew Blickensderfer, in a Nationwide program [side note – looks like Blickensderfer is headed to RCR’s #31]. Roush said he has done what he can to help keep Ragan in the Sprint Cup Series. “I have tried to help David,” Roush said. “[Would you] characterize what I’ve done as not attempting to be helpful and to do my very best for David? As far as I know Richard Petty’s situation is stable, and either Ricky or Trevor will figure into the Wood Brothers’ limited program.
Roush Fenway senior vice president of business operations Steve Newmark confirmed the ongoing discussions and said “the ideal would be for David to remain under the Roush Fenway umbrella. We’ve had some discussions with him, looking at the Nationwide level.” Newmark said as of Monday RFR would field one full-time Nationwide program and another part-time effort in 2012, and whichever of Stenhouse or Bayne didn’t compete full time in Nationwide would compete in the legendary #21 Ford fielded for a partial Sprint Cup schedule by Wood Brothers Racing, a Roush Fenway ally. With Edwards, who secured the 2011 Nationwide owners’ championship for Roush, ceasing to run full-time in Nationwide and the status of the #6 Sprint Cup program unsure, Roush said “we’ve got some people that will be displaced, though those decisions haven’t been finalized, so I wouldn’t care to speculate.” Newmark confirmed the organization would scale back but he was not in a position to cite any numbers or definite layoff dates.(NASCAR.com)(11-22-2011)
