No. 6 UPS Ford
Owners: Jack Roush/John Henry
Team: Roush Fenway Racing
Crew Chief: Jimmy Fennig

The Rundown

Ah, the dreaded sophomore slump. It’s the one thing every second-year driver is guaranteed to hear plenty about as he tries to put his rookie mistakes behind him and work to make a name as a serious contender in the Sprint Cup Series. But for David Ragan, there was no such thing. He passed his second year with flying colors, coming painfully close to earning one of 12 coveted spots in the Chase for the Championship.

Ragan eventually settled for “Best of the Rest” honors after a self-induced spin in the Richmond transfer race kept him out of the postseason. But a 13th-place points finish left him as one of the most improved drivers on the circuit. It was quite a jump for a driver who, just the year before, secured only three top-10 finishes. Over the final eight races of the 2008 season alone, Ragan racked up five top 10s and felt like he had a shot at ending the year with a win at Homestead.

That stark improvement garnered the attention of UPS, one of the biggest sponsors in NASCAR. After parting ways with MWR, the longtime NASCAR sponsor came to Roush Fenway and Ragan to replace AAA for 2009 and beyond. This is a huge get for Roush Fenway, as UPS is one of the most racing-savvy of all the big-name sponsors. The company’s years in the sport have enabled it to pick a winner and stick with him — another sign that Ragan is primed to take the next step in a blossoming career.

“UPS has shown over the years not only to be a leader in its industry, but also in the marketing and execution of its NASCAR program,” team owner Jack Roush says. “With the progress David has made, I have no doubt he will be in Victory Lane with UPS in 2009.”

Having Roush equipment will benefit Ragan, but the true ace in the hole is crew chief Jimmy Fennig. He’s the man who helped shape then-future-champion Kurt Busch. And let’s not forget Fennig’s years of success with a guy named Mark Martin. Fennig’s knack for helping groom young talent has been evident with a driver who’s come a long way from being labeled a “dart without feathers” by Tony Stewart after Ragan’s second Cup start at Martinsville in 2006.

The fact Stewart was willing to back Ragan for “Driver of the Year” honors two years later tells you all you need to know about this phenom. Now, Ragan falls under a different set of expectations — matching the third-year breakout seasons set by superstars Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Matt Kenseth. It’s not going to get any easier, but if there’s a new first-time Chaser in 2009, chances are Ragan’s it.

This young man’s future is bright; the talent is evident, the sponsorship is in place and the equipment under him is championship caliber. Look for Ragan to be a mainstay on the circuit for years to come.

Opposing Crew Chiefs’ Take

David Ragan is popularly considered the “winner in waiting,” and his progress, from near-laughingstock as a rookie to reliable performer in year two, is dutifully noted.

“Ragan is slowly gaining ground in comparison to his Roush Fenway teammates,” says one crew chief. “There’s no question that he has impressed a lot of people over the past year. It wouldn’t be a shocker by any means if he won a race. We’ll have to see how he matures from here and whether it will continue. Put it this way: He’s probably the best driver out there who hasn’t won a race yet.”

The occasional top-5 finish is one thing; actually winning is quite another. “There’s still a learning curve,” notes a rival crew chief. “Ragan’s proved he can avoid mistakes and make the best of things. There really hasn’t been a real opportunity, though, where he’s been in position to win and had to go get it. If the truth be known, we really don’t know — yet — whether or not he can mix it up with the big boys and come out on top.”

2008 Recap

David Ragan didn’t rocket out of the gates in 2008, but sometimes good things come to those who wait. Unlike 2007’s surprising top 5 in the Daytona 500, Ragan had a rough go of it and started the season behind the 8-ball, wrecking teammate Matt Kenseth and finishing in 42nd place.  But it didn’t take long for Ragan to turn things around — he was seventh at Las Vegas two weeks later — and by Darlington in May, he had already equaled his top-10 output (three) of 2007.

As he sat on the Chase bubble, most expected the sophomore simply to fade away with time. Instead, a strong summer push saw him earn five top 10s in seven races and position himself for an outside shot at pulling off the upset. Key to that stretch was his maturity in keeping the car in one piece; New Hampshire in June was his sole crash-turned-DNF after Daytona. However, the Chase just wasn’t meant to be after finishes of 30th at Watkins Glen and 32nd at Richmond kept him in 13th place. 

As he made a mockery of 13th position in the final standings (beating Kasey Kahne by 214 points), the focus turned to winning races and gaining momentum for 2009. In the last eight races of the year, Ragan seemed to turn a corner with consistency, finishing outside the top 13 only once as he closed out a successful sophomore run. In all, Ragan tripled the number of top 5s and earned nearly five times the amount of top 10s that he had during his rookie year.

Purchase your 2009 Racing magazine here.