Driver Wants to Outdo Talladega Top-10s from ’12
STATESVILLE, N.C. (May 2, 2013) – Georgia-based Farm Rich is teaming up with Unadilla, Ga., native David Ragan for this weekend’s high-speed action at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway – a track where he has a history of finishing up front.
The Aaron’s 499 race weekend will be the first time Farm Rich has partnered with a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team. Farm Rich makes wholesome, great-tasting frozen snack and appetizer products such as Farm Rich Mozzarella Sticks, Meatballs and Jalapeño Peppers. They are sold at grocery and club stores nationwide.
“Farm Rich is really happy to be involved with David Ragan, the No. 34 team and Front Row Motorsports,” said Shannon Gilreath, Senior Brand Manager for Farm Rich. “Farm Rich fans love NASCAR, so this is a great way to put two of their favorite things together. It’s going to be a great race and we think fans will be excited to see Farm Rich on the No. 34 car.”
Sunday’s Aaron’s 499 will be Ragan’s 13th Sprint Cup start at the 2.66-mile tri-oval, and Victory Lane could certainly be in Farm Rich and Ragan’s sights. The 27-year-old driver has collected three top-five and five top-10 finishes at Talladega, including seventh- and fourth-place finishes in his last two trips to the superspeedway. His top career finish was a third-place result in 2008.
Comments from Farm Rich team driver David Ragan heading to Talladega:
“It’s great to bring a new partner like Farm Rich into the sport. And what better place to do it than Talladega. Ask any NASCAR fan and they’ll tell you that it’s always one of the most exciting racetracks of the circuit. We were fast the first time we went speedway racing at Daytona in February and I expect we’ll be fast again this weekend. We’ll get the Farm Rich Ford running up front.
“Talladega’s got a lot of grip. It’s newly repaved a few years ago, so handling doesn’t come into play as much, but it always provides for a good race. There’s always a lot of strategy, from the leader to the guy running 20th to the guy running 30th that’s saving his equipment ’til the end of the race. Everyone’s on a little different strategy and that makes it interesting. It’s fun to watch. The cars are going to be fast, they’re going to be fun to drive, but there’s a lot of things that can go wrong if you don’t make the right decisions behind the wheel and on top of the pit box.
“Our Talladega cars are looking good. Our guys at the shop have worked hard getting those things fixed from Daytona. We just need to be there at the end. Speedway racing is a lot of fun for me. But at the same time it can be pretty frustrating if you’re listening to the finish on the radio while you’re going back to the airport. We just need to be cool and play it safe for the whole race and be there for the last fuel run.
“I think these new Gen-6 cars have got a little more mechanical grip with the rear-end housing, camber rule and a little bit more downforce, and it’s a little lighter. So that’s going to mean a little bit more speed. Obviously at the superspeedway, you’ve got to pay a lot of attention to your temperatures. Your engine performance is based upon how warm your water and oil temperatures stay all race long. And when you’re running in those real tight packs, NASCAR regulates you with the air intake that you have going to the radiator. So you’ve got to be cognizant of what’s going on around you the whole day so you’ve got an engine on eight cylinders to finish the race.”
About Farm Rich
A leading brand of frozen snacks and appetizers, Farm Rich (www.farmrich.com) is based in St. Simons Island, Ga., and features products that help moms “Keep ’em Happy.” Sold at grocery and club stores nationwide, Farm Rich makes wholesome, great-tasting snacks that are sure to please family and friends. Visit www.farmrich.com or the brand’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/FarmRichSnacks. Follow Farm Rich on Twitter at @farmrichsnacks.
About Front Row Motorsports:
Front Row Motorsports fields the No. 34 of David Ragan, the No. 38 of David Gilliland and the No. 35 of Josh Wise in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. The team is owned by Bob Jenkins and is headquartered just outside of Charlotte, N.C. In 2012, FRM was named to INC Magazine’s “INC 5000” list, recognizing the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., earning a rank of 800. Its partnership base is representative of more than $200 billion of the U.S. economy and includes organizations such as Ford Motor Company, CSX Transportation, Love’s Travel Stops, McCall Farms, Taco Bell, and Long John Silver’s. For sponsorship inquiries, contact Robin Johnson at rjohnson@frontrowmotorsports.com or Mike Laheta at mlaheta@frontrowmotorsports.com.
