page_title: David Ragan
section_title: 2016
hierarchical_section_title: David Ragan / Racing career / 2016
caption_attribution_description: English: David Ragan
context_page_description: David Lee Ragan is an American professional stock car racing driver. He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 36 Ford Mustang for Rick Ware Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series, driving the No. 17 Ford F-150 for DGR-Crosley.
  Ragan was born in Unadilla, Georgia, the son of former racer Ken Ragan, and began his racing career racing in the Bandolero Series at age 12. Four years later, he began competing in the Goody's Dash Series with Cam Strader. After one year, he moved to the Legends Pro-Division to race for Mark Martin. He concluded the season by finishing fourth in the point standings. At age 18, Ragan began racing in the Camping World Truck Series, Nationwide Series, and the ARCA Racing Series.
  In 2007, he moved up to the Sprint Cup Series, replacing Mark Martin in the No. 6, and driving for Roush Fenway Racing. Between 2007 and 2011, he has recorded 30 top-tens in the series.
  On July 2, 2011, Ragan won his first career Sprint Cup Series race, the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway.
context_section_description: On January 19, 2016, it was announced that Ragan would drive the No. 23 Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry for BK Racing. The No. 23 team struggled mightily, as the team's engines did not have enough speed to be competitive on a weekly basis. Ragan's best result with the BK team in 2016 was a 16th-place finish at the Coke Zero 400. During late summer, Ragan was thrown into the spotlight after Chris Buescher, driving Ragan's old No. 34 at FRM, won at Pocono while trailing Ragan for 30th in points. The battle between Buescher and Ragan for 30th (and therefore Chase eligibility for Buescher) became a focal point of the lead-up to the Chase. Buescher ended up qualifying for the Chase, while Ragan dropped several spots to finish 33rd overall in Sprint Cup points, a career-worst, and marking his first season without at least one Top 10 finish. Ragan parted ways with BK Racing after the season.
  For the 2nd year in a row, Ragan drove in relief for Joe Gibbs Racing in the July Xfinity race at Daytona, driving the No. 18 Toyota replacing Matt Tifft, out on medical leave. Ragan sat on the pole, but crashed on the last lap, and finished 21st.
caption: Ragan racing at Daytona International Speedway in 2016
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