David Ragan

Birthday: 12/24/1985
Hometown: Unadilla, GA

YEAR-BY-YEAR CUP SERIES RECAP

2011 -- Finished 23rd in series points. ... Loop Data Driver Rating improved 12 points from 2010. ... Won first career race in 163rd start, at Daytona-2. ... Average finish of 19.2. ... Won first two career poles, at Texas-1 and Indianapolis. ... Career-best average start of 15.1. ... Won Sprint Showdown (preliminary to NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race). ... Completed 93.6 percent of laps attempted. ... Led career-high 49 laps.

2010 -- Finished 24th in series points. ... Made improvement at end of season with move of veteran crew chief Drew Blickensderfer to his program for 2011. ... Average start in last three races just over eighth, including best start, fifth, at Texas-2; average start 22.5. ... Best finish, sixth, Talladega-1; average finish 21.3.

2009 -- Finished 27th in series points. ... Began the season with a flourish, finishing sixth in the Daytona 500. ...Waited 29 races (Fontana) for his next top- 10. ... Average finish was 24.44. ... Crew chief Jimmy Fennig moved by Roush Fenway Racing into a research and development role. Former Jamie McMurray crew chief Donnie Wingo takes over as crew chief for 2010.

2008 -- Finished 13th in series points. ... Generally acknowledged as the most improved driver of 2008. ... Challenged for a berth in the Chase. ... Significantly improved year-end Driver Rating -- 81.8 compared to 56.1 in 2007.

2007 -- Finished 23rd in series points. ... Was runner-up for rookie of the year award. ... Finished fifth in Daytona 500, one of two top-five finishes for the year. ... Finished career-best third at Richmond in September. ... Had three top-10s. ... Was top-finishing rookie in 14 races.

2006 -- Finished 61st in series points. ... Competed in two Cup Series events, finishing 42nd at Dover (September) and 25th at Martinsville (October).

PREVIOUS RACING HISTORY

Competed full-time in both NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2007-2008. ... Finished fifth in 2007 Nationwide Series and named Rookie of the Year. Earned two poles, Texas-1 and Homestead. ... Finished fourth in 2008 Nationwide Series. ... In 2009 Nationwide Series won twice, with 15 top-10 finishes in 19 starts working with 2011 series champion crew chief Mike Kelley. ... Competed in 19 races in 2006 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, finished 24th in standings with one top-five, eight top-10 finishes. ... Earned pole at Indianapolis in 21st career start. ... Competed in 28 2005 ARCA RE/MAX Series races with a victory at Lanier National Speedway. ... Started 10 2004 Camping World Truck Series races for Fiddleback Racing. ... Began competing in Bandolero cars at age 11 and won national championship in 1998-1999. ... After that raced in the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series and Legends Pro Division, racing for Mark Martin.

NOTEWORTHY

Engaged to marry Jacquelyn Butler in December 2012. ... Owns David Ragan Ford dealership in Perry, Ga. ... In spare time races his own late model stock cars. ... Secured NASCAR Camping World Truck Series ride through 2005 Roush "Gong Show" tryout. ... Succeeded four-time series runner-up Mark Martin in No. 6 NASCAR Sprint Cup Ford for Roush Fenway Racing. ... Son of retired NASCAR driver Ken Ragan. ... Supports charitable works and his donations to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, through personal donations and help from the Coca-Cola Chug for Charity campaign have reached $150,000. ... Active on Twitter: @David_Ragan.