Multiple sources tell Sirius-Speedway.com that the former Roush Fenway Racing driver is the leading candidate to replace Kurt Busch at the wheel of Penske Racing's #22 Shell Pennzoil Dodge next season.
One day after the 2011 season finale at Homestead Miami Speedway, team owner Jack Roush said there was less than a 50/50 chance that he would re-sign the Undadilla, Ga., driver, saying, "Right now I don’t see having something for David. We aren’t far enough along. There are some discussions ongoing, but they aren’t far enough along that I would put more than a 40 percent chance of having something for David.”
Ragan’s former sponsor, UPS announced late in the season it will reduce its involvement in 2012, playing an associate’s role on the #99 Ford of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series runner-up Carl Edwards.
Roush still holds an option on Ragan's contract for 2012, but informed the driver recently that he is free to pursue opportunities with other teams. Now, sources say Ragan has emerged as the leading candidate from a field of potential replacements for Busch that includes David Reutimann and Brian Vickers, as well as Penske Racing Nationwide Series drivers Sam Hornish, Jr., and Parker Kligerman.
It is highly unlikely that Penske Racing would have fired Busch without the prior approval of sponsors Shell and Pennzoil, and sources say that decision also would not be made until the team and sponsors had agreed upon a viable replacement.
Penske is going in the right direction two young drivers that are very good and aren't dickheads
ReplyDeletePlease let David get this ride. He would be great for S/P.
ReplyDeleteAdding David Ragan would certainly send the right message about the kind of drivers that they want in their organization. Class act all the way!
ReplyDeleteThis would be a smart move on Penske's part. David Ragan was "schooled" in how to represent your sponsor well at Roush-Fenway.
ReplyDeleteNow it appears that only Joe Gibbs Racing is enabling poor sponsorship representation. M&M's needs to re-evaluate where they place their bucks since Kyle's actions are endorsed by them.
WHAT!!! They fired Kurt? WHY??? He has such a sweet disposition!! And he is so GOOD with the Media!! Whats this guy gonna do? Work well with others? Perform?? Geez whats this world coming to?
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ReplyDeleteRAGAN IS THE PERFECT TEAMMATE FOR KESELOWSKI AND MORE IMPORTANT HE IS A VERY TALENTED DRIVER THAT WOULD REPRESENT PENSKE -- SHELL -PENNZOIL - DODGE WITH DIGNITY AND CLASS. ROGER, IF YOU WANT A GOOD SHOT AT THE DAYTONA 500 PUT DAVID BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE #22
ReplyDeleteDavid Ragan is an excellent ambassabor to his sponsors/manufacturer/NASCAR. Can't believe Ford will let him leave their umbrella so easily. Maybe he will have some better chemistry at Penske and get the double deuce into victory lane in 2012.
ReplyDeletePosts that include profanity or name-calling will be deleted. Every. Single. Time.
ReplyDeleteNothing against Ragan, but Hornish deserves the first chance at the 22. His loyalty to Penske is unparalleled. Had he the opportunity for a top tier program like #22 when he raced cup, he would have fared as well as Ragan. Sam haters talk him down, but he has yet to have an elite crew and car in the cup series to work with. Let him have his due.
ReplyDeleteAny one but VICKERS please!
ReplyDeleteLet’s get real! The new driver of the 22 has been chosen. Most likely it will be David Ragan. He has been released from roushe Fenway and is free to go. From what I have heard in multiple interviews, David has "speed", that quality that we know it when we see it. He also has the polish that shell/Pennzoil is looking for. Big things will come of this.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to Kurt, I hope he gets it figured out.
Loyal listener from NH.
Ragen= 1 win in a plate race for top rate RFM equipment.
ReplyDeleteReutimann= 2 wins in MWR junk.
Ruddy is the man!
David ragan and david ruderman have had there chance to prove themselves. I think justin all geyer should be the leading candidate for the 22 car.
ReplyDeleteWhy on Earth would Roger Penske hire David Ragan? One win in tandem RP race where he was pushed by his teammate?? He drove away one of the biggest sponsors (UPS) in NASCAR from a major full-time sponsorship to a small part-time sponsorship ... In over five years at Roush, he finished four of those seasons outside of the top 20 ... He was only inside the top 20 in 2008 because Roush was looking for a sponsor for the #6 car ...
ReplyDeleteRagan's got way too many DNFs from self-inflicted wrecks and engine blow-ups ... The only things that Ragan did not hit in 2011 were the pace car and safety vehicles ...
Sam Hornish Jr should have the # 22 Cup ride ... The problem with the #77 Cup team was NEVER Sam ... It was the sheer incompetency of crew chief Travis Geisler ... It's hard to work with a car that's always setup to be loose in / tight center / loose off ...
If not Sam, then it should be Reutimann ... He knows how to take care of equipment better than Ragan and Vickers ...