Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

David Ragan stunned with Talladega win

David Ragan admits he was stunned by his late surge to victory in a rain-hit NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega

Aided by a push from Front Row team-mate David Gilliland, Ragan charged from the fringes of the top 10 to snatch victory in a green-white-chequer two-lap dash to the finish.

Ragan said his initial move up the order owed more to fortune than design, but that he knew victory was possible once he had moved into the top five.

"When we took the green we were running 10th," Ragan said, "and we ended with a one-two finish. Can you believe that?

"I don't know what happened on that first lap, but coming around to take the white I was pushing the #43 [Aric Almirola], he jumped to the outside and I didn't want to be on the top lane.

"I thought that maybe we could get a good run and race for the win coming out of Turn 4, but I didn't know at the time the #38, David Gilliland, was hooked to my rear bumper, and so that gave me a little extra confidence. I knew that he was going to stick with me.

"Carl Edwards was leading, I think he tried to block [Ricky Stenhouse Jr], which allowed me a clean hole on the bottom, so I went low.

"Carl I guess didn't see me come quick enough and I was able to get position on him.

"I don't know still today how [Gilliland] had such a good run, but sitting here right now with a one-two makes it even more special."

Ragan refuted suggestions from 2012 champion Brad Keselowski that he had lined up on the wrong side at the restart, saying: "There's no controversy; NASCAR will set him straight eventually.

"NASCAR [calls the order] on the radio. Obviously Brad wanted to start on the outside, because he knew the same thing that I knew - that the outside lane had an advantage on the restart - but he just didn't want to listen to NASCAR.

"He maybe won't admit it, but he knows that he lined up in the right spot and I lined up in the right spot."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Talladega NASCAR: David Ragan leads amazing Front Row one-two
Next article Matt Kenseth's Kansas penalties reduced by NASCAR appeals panel

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe