RELATED: Driver Tracker | Offseason moves
David Ragan has landed a ride with BK Racing for the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team announced the news Monday afternoon after the veteran driver had confirmed his move to FOX5 in Atlanta earlier in the day.
Ragan will pilot the No. 23 Toyota for the team, which will field two full-time entries in 2016. Ragan told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio's Dave Moody that Patrick Donahue will be his crew chief. Earlier in the day, BK Racing announced that Matt DiBenedetto would drive the No. 83 Toyota with Gene Nead as the crew chief.
"I'm happy to be part of something that has so much growth potential," Ragan said in a team release. "(Team owner) Ron (Devine) has steadily built his program over the last five years.
"He's made an even greater commitment in 2016 with new cars, equipment and additional personnel. I feel that we'll be in a position to bring the team to the next level. I'm looking forward to the season."
Ragan will carry sponsorship from Dr. Pepper for multiple races in 2016 and the soft drink will also be an associate sponsor on the team's cars throughout the season. Additional sponsorship for the No. 23 team will be announced over the coming weeks, according to the team release.
Jeb Burton finished out the 2015 season in the No. 23 Toyota and indicated on Twitter that he is working on his 2016 plans.
Last season, Ragan started all 36 races in the sport's top series, but was a super-sub of sorts. He started the year in the No. 34 Ford for Front Row Motorsports but after one race shifted over to the No. 18 Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing to fill in for the injured Kyle Busch for nine races. He then finished out the season's last 26 races driving for Michael Waltrip Racing in the No. 55 Toyota. In 2015, Ragan recorded one top 10 and finished 27th in the point standings.
In his Sprint Cup career, Ragan has two wins in 326 starts over 10 years. His last win came in May of 2013 at Talladega Superspeedway for Front Row and was also the organization's first -- and, to date, only -- Cup win.
"We're very excited to have a driver of David's caliber join our team," Devine said in a team release. "In addition to being a race winner, I feel that his input and leadership qualities will benefit the team on many levels. Our entire organization is energized to work with him."