By Caleb Whisler, Staff Writer
Making it to 400 starts in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series is special for many drivers, but many have been unable to do so at their home track.
David Ragan will be able to do both this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
Prior to the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500, Ragan, a native of Unadilla, GA, will join AMS President, Ed Clark, at the Georgia General Assembly in Atlanta on Thursday to be recognized for his achievements.
“I am going in early. Ed Clark and I are going up to the capitol on Thursday for a meet and greet with some state legislatures and hangout some, which is always neat for a hometown boy to go back and see them,” Ragan stated about the honors.
Ragan will not only be joined by numerous family and friends this weekend, but also some of his original fans: a couple from Missouri and a family from Georgia. While he was a rookie in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2006, Ragan saved all the fan mail and autograph requests he received that year. In 2018, he taped into the fan mail received that year and invited four families to his 400th start, but only two responded.
“We didn’t have their phone numbers. We just had their mailing address. We sent out four letters saying ‘Hey, this is from the office of David Ragan. You sent me a fan mail in 2006. I am making my 400th start. Thank you for being a fan from the get go. If you want to go to Atlanta Motor Speedway, call this number’,” Ragan stated.
“I had my office number on there. Only two people called back. It just worked out that the people still lived at the same address. They were both thrilled to come.”
Ragan wanted to show his appreciation to the fans that took the time back in 2006 to send him fan mail and autograph requests.
“I felt like they were fans and interested enough in some punk kid in 2006 to send an autograph request and they still lived at the same address. We were able to get in touch with them and here we are 12 years later and 400 starts in the Cup Series later.”
Throughout his career, Ragan has collected two wins, 15 top-five’s, 49 top-10’s and has two poles to his name. Ragan has competed in the Cup series for Roush Fenway Racing, Front Row Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Michael Waltrip Racing and BK Racing.