CHARLOTTE, NC (April 18 2008) – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver David Ragan headlines a star studded field of Super Late Model drivers heading to the Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele, GA for the Pro All Stars Series (PASS) South’s first visit to the speedway. The April 26th race at Watermelon Capital marks a homecoming for Ragan who grew up in nearby Unadilla, GA. Ragan will race in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Talladega, AL early in the day, fly to Cordele for the Watermelon 125 and then it’s back to Talladega for Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.
“It feels good to come back and race for fun,” said Ragan. “Logistically, Talladega and Watermelon Capital Speedway are pretty close and it works out in the schedule for that weekend. Anytime you can race in front of family and friends it’s always special.”
At just 22 years of age David Ragan decided to follow his father Ken, a veteran of 50 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races, into the racing business. He has already had a fair share of success. In 2007 Ragan finished in the top five in the Daytona 500, had a best finish of third at the Richmond (VA) International Raceway, and won the NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie-of-the-Year award,
Despite Ragan’s meteoric rise to the top level of stock car racing, he has spent little time behind the wheel of a Super Late Model. Ragan moved fairly quickly from Legends and Thunder Roadsters to ARCA, largely bypassing the fastest full fendered short track race cars.
“I spent some time racing Super Late Models in the summer of 2003 but I turned 18 shortly after that and started racing ARCA,” said Ragan.
With his busy schedule of Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series races driving for car owner Jack Roush, David has had little time to race with PASS or any other touring divisions. Thanks to help from some of his old short track racing friends, David doesn’t have to worry about what he will be driving in the PASS South Series Watermelon 125.
“I’m driving Casey Roderick’s Super Late Model,” said Ragan. He’s 16 years old and a friend of ours. I actually flew home Sunday after [the Sprint Cup race at] Phoenix and practiced, so at least I got some time in the car prior to the race.”
In addition to Ragan, some of Georgia and the nation’s best have committed to the PASS South Watermelon 125. Bubba Pollard, coming off a Super Late Model win in Alabama, Michael Pope, Justin Wakefield, and Bill Elliott development driver Mitch Cobb are just a few of the drivers with Georgia connections hoping for a win in the Peach State. Those drivers plus PASS South points leader Corey Williams, teen standouts Zach Stroupe and John Stancill, Kyle Busch development driver Alex Haase, and many more are all expected for the inaugural Watermelon 125.
Gates open Saturday April 26 at 11:00 AM.PASS South Super Late Model practice gets underway ay 2:00 PM and qualifying gets the green flag at 4:30 PM. Qualifying rounds and feature racing starts at 6:30 PM and the green flag is set to drop on the Watermelon 125 at approximately 8:30 PM. Watermelon Capital Speedway is located in Cordele, GA at exit 104 just off Interstate 75.
For information on all five PASS racing divisions, visit www.proallstarsseries.com ; the PASS South web site can be found at www.racewithpass.com . Watermelon Capital Speedway is on line at www.watermeloncapitalspeedway.com