Full Throttle

David Ragan really turned some heads with his performance in the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series in ’08 in his Roush Fenway Racing Ford Fusion.

He’s excited about returning to the facility — Lanier National Speedway — where he won his first ARCA Series race just a few years ago for the 2nd Annual Ice Cold Shriners Bowl event this weekend.

“We are excited about going home to Georgia,” Ragan said. “I learned a whole lot running the ARCA cars at this speedway, and will always consider it one of my favorite tracks. We feel like this will be a great race, because I have logged so many laps here.

It’s always good to come back and race with my old friends here in the Super Late Model division,” added Ragan. “The scheduling worked out for this weekend since we don’t have winter testing anymore with the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series cars. I enjoy the fans’ reaction to seeing me race on the short tracks again.

It’s a great way to get the word out about the Shriners Hospitals for Children, plus it’s a relaxed atmosphere where I can hang out with the fans and talk about all the great things the Shriners do to help these kids.”

Ragan has spent little time behind the wheel of a Super Late Model, but is confident in the crew working to prepare the car for his arrival. “I’m driving Jamey Steven’s Super Late Model,” Ragan said. “He’s a friend of ours and former track champion here at Lanier National so we know the car will be a good piece. My cousin Brett is working with them on shocks and getting the chassis set-up in the car the way he knows I like it. They make my job easy because they do all the prep work. I just get to be the lucky one to drive it.”

“This will be a great event, and I hope the fans will come out to support the Shriners,” Ragan added. “We plan on having some souvenirs for sale, an autograph session, a lot of fun, and some good hard racing.”

Pits open at 10 a.m. Saturday with practice to begin at noon and qualifying to follow. Grandstands are free .

On Sunday, pits open at 11a.m. and grandstands at Noon. Racing begins at 2. Ragan will be doing an autograph session prior to the race.