DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.: David Ragan is committed. Committed to balancing his family life and racing career, the 38-year-old Unadilla, Ga. native is doing just that.
When asked about his family commitment, Ragan stated, “I’ve already made a commitment to my wife and my kids that I’m gonna be home a little bit more, so it’s fun to have one foot in the door and one foot out of the door.”
When offered the chance to return to the RFK family, Ragan only had good things to say about returning to his former team. “It’s really exciting to be back in an RFK Ford,” said Ragan, who led in the final laps of the 2011 Daytona 500 before being penalized for a restart violation.
“I spent some of the best years of my career driving for Mr. Jack (Roush) and the team at RFK. They really gave me my first opportunity in the sport.”
Coming into the “Great American Race” at Daytona International Speedway, the stress level for Ragan has been taken off of his shoulders.
Between experience and good finishes at the speedway in the past, the No. 60 RFK Racing BuildSubmarines.com Ford driver looks to build on the success that the team has been producing.
Without having a full-season commitment to the team every week, Ragan can come back and enjoy racing without the high pressure.
“To have a good chance to run well, I don’t think that I would be here if it was just a mediocre effort, but to be here in a car with a team that I feel like we can compete for a win and leading laps, that gives me the confidence that I can come back and have some fun,” explained Ragan.
Knowing that he doesn’t have the weight of the world on him, he also stated, “I also don’t have that stress and responsibility that I know I’m getting ready to be gone for the next 38 weeks in a row and fighting all season long.”
The long game is to help the Stage 60 project advance without taking resources away from the two full-time teams of Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher. Ragan is aware of his responsibility to give valuable input to the team.
When asked at Daytona 500 Media Day on Thursday if he had plans for any more races this year with RFK Racing, Ragan would not elaborate past Daytona, “I certainly want to be an asset to a team like RFK,” stated Ragan.
“You don’t want to try to run too much and pull resources away from those two teams. they are going to be racing for a championship.”
Ragan makes his 31st overall start this weekend at Daytona International Speedway and 17th in the Daytona 500.
In 30 starts overall, he has one win in the 2011 summer race and eight top-10s.
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