Joins Whelen Southern Modified Field At Caraway
By Tim Southers, NASCAR

While some of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers are taking this weekend off to rest and relax, David Ragan is going to keep racing.

Ragan, driver of the No. 6 UPS Ford for Roush Fenway Racing, has entered to run the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour season opener Sunday, March 15 at Caraway Speedway in Asheboro, N.C. Ragan will drive for Darrel Krentz's No. 15 in the Spring Classic 150.

“The opportunity to race this weekend at Caraway came up and with a rare off-weekend for both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series, I decided it would be a lot of fun,” Ragan said. “I've never driven a Modified, so I figured it would certainly be something interesting and fun to go do.”

Qualifying for the Spring Classic 150 is scheduled for Saturday, March 14 at 4:30 p.m. The race is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 15.

It is the first of 16 races on the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour schedule. Brian Loftin will open his title defense, while Tim Brown, Andy Seuss, Jason Myers and former champion L.W. Miller lead the list of challengers.

For Ragan, who grew up racing stock cars, this is a unique opportunity to race an open-wheel car.

“I've run several late model races at Caraway Speedway over the years, but never a Modified race,” Ragan said. “It's the first race of the season there, so it should be a fun event.”

In addition to hosting the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour, Caraway Speedway kicks off its NASCAR Whelen All-American Series season this weekend with a 200-lap Late Model race and a 30-lap Limited Sportsman race.

Ragan is currently 22nd in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings. The 23-year-old enjoyed a breakout year in 2008, finishing 13th and nearly qualifying for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

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