By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
For just the fifth time in 2018, Front Row Motorsports put two cars in the top 20. With teammate Michael McDowell holding the charge from the 16th spot, David Ragan was the 20th-place finisher following Sunday’s Can-Am 500 from ISM Raceway.
Starting from 31st, fighting was necessary in order to march near the top 20. With some late attrition taking out some playoff contenders, Ragan avoided the mess to score a decent result for the Ford organization. The result was Ragan’s first top 20 at ISM since 2015 and best result at the track with Front Row.
More than just track stats, the Georgia native seems to be on a good consistent trend to end 2018, compiling three top-20 finishes in the last four races.
Overlooking the underdog teams throughout 2018, Front Row has been a regular name near the top. Being the focus of Mid-Pack three times, earning 23 top-20 and two top-10 finishes this season, Front Row is perhaps nearing the level of JTG Daugherty Racing for 2019.
The veteran now enters the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway with 11 prior starts, finishing a highest of 10th in 2007.
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Watkins Glen: Chris Buescher (3)
Michigan: Chris Buescher (4)
Bristol: Kyle Busch
Darlington: Michael McDowell (2)
Indianapolis: Regan Smith
Las Vegas: Ross Chastain
Richmond: William Byron (4)
Charlotte ROVAL: Cole Whitt
Dover: Matt Kenseth
Talladega: William Byron (5)
Kansas: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Martinsville: Ryan Blaney
Texas: AJ Allmendinger
ISM: David Ragan
Mid-Pack With Zach: David Ragan, Front Row Motorsports
By: Zach Catanzareti, Staff Writer
Each week, Kickin’ The Tires will highlight the 20th-place finisher from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Standing as the middleman in weekends with 40-car fields, there is sure to be a story behind each one.
For just the fifth time in 2018, Front Row Motorsports put two cars in the top 20. With teammate Michael McDowell holding the charge from the 16th spot, David Ragan was the 20th-place finisher following Sunday’s Can-Am 500 from ISM Raceway.
Starting from 31st, fighting was necessary in order to march near the top 20. With some late attrition taking out some playoff contenders, Ragan avoided the mess to score a decent result for the Ford organization. The result was Ragan’s first top 20 at ISM since 2015 and best result at the track with Front Row.
More than just track stats, the Georgia native seems to be on a good consistent trend to end 2018, compiling three top-20 finishes in the last four races.
Overlooking the underdog teams throughout 2018, Front Row has been a regular name near the top. Being the focus of Mid-Pack three times, earning 23 top-20 and two top-10 finishes this season, Front Row is perhaps nearing the level of JTG Daugherty Racing for 2019.
The veteran now enters the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway with 11 prior starts, finishing a highest of 10th in 2007.
List of 20th-Place Finishers So Far in 2018
Daytona: Gray Gaulding
Atlanta: Alex Bowman
Las Vegas: Trevor Bayne
ISM: Trevor Bayne (2)
Auto Club: Darrell Wallace Jr.
Martinsville: William Byron
Texas: Gray Gaulding(2)
Bristol: Landon Cassill
Richmond: Ty Dillon
Talladega: DJ Kennington
Dover: Chris Buescher
Kansas: Michael McDowell
Charlotte: Kasey Kahne
Pocono: Clint Bowyer
Michigan: Jimmie Johnson
Sonoma: Kasey Kahne(2)
Chicagoland: William Byron(2)
Daytona: Trevor Bayne(3)
Kentucky: William Byron(3)
New Hampshire: Chris Buescher(2)
Pocono: Jamie McMurray
Watkins Glen: Chris Buescher (3)
Michigan: Chris Buescher (4)
Bristol: Kyle Busch
Darlington: Michael McDowell (2)
Indianapolis: Regan Smith
Las Vegas: Ross Chastain
Richmond: William Byron (4)
Charlotte ROVAL: Cole Whitt
Dover: Matt Kenseth
Talladega: William Byron (5)
Kansas: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Martinsville: Ryan Blaney
Texas: AJ Allmendinger
ISM: David Ragan