Setting out to prove that racing is in his blood, David Ragan embarked on a new chapter of his racing career in 2006.
The son of former Cup driver Ken Ragan, David began racing at the age of 11 in the Bandolero Series. Under the guidance of his father, David had years of experience instilled in him before he ever hit the race track.
Not wanting just to be known as the son of a former driver, David made sure to let his on-track performance prove that he was out to establish his own reputation. He accomplished his goal, winning 12 races and the National Championship in just his second year of competition.
Ragan continued to race in the Bandolero division for the next two years, again winning the National Championship in 1999. He knew that getting experience in the smaller cars was helping to develop his driving skills, but he would need to progress to a full-size car and learn what it would take to bring him to the next level. He purchased a Goody’s Dash Series car and began preparations for the next step in his career.
Ragan partnered with Dash Series driver Cam Strader, and went to work in his shop. The experience he gained would prove invaluable to his future. When they were not getting the Dash cars ready to run, they were working on two new late model cars that Ragan would run the following year. Strader taught him what it took to set the cars up, and allowed Ragan the hands-on experience to which he credits much of his success. Much more than just a driver, Ragan worked countless hours preparing the cars that Strader would race to the 2001 series Championship.
With the help of Strader, David ran several late model races across the southeast in 2002. Still too young to compete in NASCAR divisions, Ragan made sure he was running the most comparable equipment possible. He began his relationship with Mark Martin, driving for him in the Legends Pro-Division, finishing fourth in series points out of 60 plus drivers.
As soon as he turned 18, Ragan made his first foray into NASCAR, running select Craftsman Truck and Nationwide Series events, along with a limited ARCA schedule.
He started second in his first ARCA start, and led a number of laps before a cut tire took him out of contention. His hard work and preparation did not go unnoticed and he caught the eye of Jack Roush’s scouts. Ragan was selected as one of the contestants in Roush Racing: Driver X, and although he did not win the competition, he was awarded a chance to pilot one of Jack Roush’s Fords in 2006.
Not wanting to waste his opportunity, Ragan drove in select NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races – driving a combined 19 races in the No. 50 and No. 6 Ford F-150’s. His strong performances, which included one pole, one top-five and eight top-10’s led to a chance in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, which then translated to a chance in the NASCAR Cup Series.
His performance in all three top levels of NASCAR, led Jack Roush to select him as the driver of the No. 6 AAA Ford in 2007, taking over for Mark Martin.
Ragan's 2007 Cup stats consist of two top-fives and three top-10s, finishing 23rd for the season.
Racing all 35 races in te Nationwide Series in 2007, Ragan finished out the season fifth in final standings. His four top-five and nine top-10 finishes helped get him into the top-10, in addition to his two poles in the Nationwide series in 2007.
The 2008 season was Ragan's best in NASCAR. He finished fourth and 13th, respecively, in the Nationwide and Cup Series standings. He also put up career numbers in the Cup Series in top fives (6), top 10s (14) and laps led (27).
