Before David Ragan climbs into his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series car for Sundays race at Sonoma Raceway, hes going to climb into the drivers seat of the 18-wheeler that will carry that race car 2,700 miles from North Carolina to California. The driver of the #34 Taco Bell Ford will be at the wheel of the teams 80-foot, 80,000-pound transporter early Tuesday morning when it pulls out of the Front Row Motorsports race shop for the cross-country trip. Team truck driver Mike Smith, the rigs primary operator throughout the season, will accompany Ragan and split the seat time during the 42-hour journey. ‘Ive always had a fascination with big trucks’ Ragan said. ‘I wanted to get my CDL (commercial drivers license), so I got that a little while ago. And I thought it would be fun to take a trip across the country on the open roads and see everything, and at the same time get to spend some time with my truck driver.” Smith had his doubts when Ragan first told him he wanted to drive the hauler to one of the race venues, much less the farthest one on the Sprint Cup Series map. ‘At first, he didnt really believe me’ Ragan said. ‘But I showed him my license and told him Id been driving the transporter for my late model team a little. Now, I think hes excited. Its going to be something different and something fun. Although hes probably going to sleep with one eye open just to make sure Im not driving too crazy.” The 27-year-old Ragan, who has been racing within NASCARs top three series since he was 18, received his commercial learners permit last year and earned his full provisional CDL several months ago. ‘I was surprised when he said he wanted to do it, but it should be neat’ truck driver Smith said. ‘I think hes the first driver to ever do this. But were going to have a good time and hes going to be just fine behind the wheel.” On Sunday, Ragan will strap into his #34 Taco Bell Ford Fusion to drive 219 miles on the winding Sonoma Raceway road course. After 110 demanding laps on the twisting terrain, will he have to climb back into the hauler for the 2,700-mile trip back to North Carolina? ‘Ill be taking a plane home.”( FRM )
