DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (July 3, 2010) – Fans in attendance at Daytona International Speedway definitely got a fourth of July show to remember. Qualifying was rained out Friday afternoon, causing NASCAR to set the field by points, which put Ragan starting 25^th. The start of the race was delayed over an hour and a half due to rain and when it finally came time to race a fairly caution-free start did not last long. There were multiple cautions that brought the field to the checkered flag, one of those cautions even involved 18 cars and another before that ended the UPS team’s day. In his backup car due to an accident in practice, Ragan battled a tight-handling car throughout the race. Then the bad luck that has plagued the team all season struck again.  On lap 117 Ragan got loose and spun out in turn three. The damage was too severe to repair and Ragan was left with a 38^th-place finish, while Kevin Harvick won the Coke Zero 400.   

 

Daytona marks the mid-way point of the season and is also a track Ragan has run well at in the past. Unfortunately the bad luck streak of the season struck early in Daytona. During the first practice session the UPS Ford got loose and with a little nudge from behind spun out on the track. The transition from the banking to the flat surface caused severe damage and then the car went back up onto the track and was finished off by the No. 9 of Kasey Kahne. The team quickly pulled out the backup and got it ready for final practice. 

 

Qualifying got underway Friday afternoon and after 12 cars had made their laps the skies opened up. A slight drizzle turned into a steady shower and with a Nationwide race to run that evening NASCAR was forced to cancel qualifying and set the field based on points. The decision put Ragan starting 25^th for the Coke Zero 400.

 

The showers returned just in time for the race Saturday evening. After about an hour and a half delay NASCAR was finally able to drop the green flag. It didn’t take many laps for Ragan to conclude his Ford was extremely tight and he could tell he was wearing out his right-front tire. Luckily the competition caution was only a few laps away. On lap 15 NASCAR threw the competition caution due to all the rain and allowed teams to pit. Ragan came down pit road for four tires, fuel and a left-rear wedge adjustment. 

 

Ragan restarted 21^st on lap 20 and maneuvered his way up to 10^th and told crew chief Donnie Wingo that he still needed to be a little more free. Ragan started to drop back in the field and was trying to take it easy on his right-front tire until he could pit again for adjustments. Help came on lap 56 as the field cycled through green-flag pit stops. Ragan pitted for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment. Three laps later the second caution of the day was out for debris on the track. Since Ragan was currently scored 34^th they had nothing to lose by coming in for more adjustments. Ragan pitted for four more tires and to have a spring rubber added to the right rear of his car. 

 

The spring rubber finally freed up the UPS Ford, but he still needed the front end to turn better. Ragan made what would be his final pit stop under caution on lap 105 for four tires, fuel and a left-rear wedge adjustment. Ragan restarted 11^th on lap 111 and was up to seventh when his day was cut short. The UPS Ford got loose in turn three and spun out on the track. Unfortunately a few others were collected and the damage to the car was beyond repair. Ragan was left with a disappointing 38^th-place finish at Daytona, while Kevin Harvick went on to win the Coke Zero 400.