CORNELIUS, N.C. — David Ragan’s first interaction with Aaron’s came in May of 2013 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Officials from the Atlanta-based company presented the Front Row Racing driver with a trophy in victory lane minutes after he won the Aaron’s 499 in an exciting green-white-checkered finish.
Michael Waltrip, who drove the Aaron’s Toyota to a fourth-place finish that day, also stopped by victory lane to congratulate Ragan.
Ragan would like a follow-up meeting with Aaron’s and Waltrip in victory lane this Sunday in Talladega where he will drive the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine for Michael Waltrip Racing.
DAVID RAGAN: “I guess if you are going to meet someone for the first time standing in victory lane at a NASCAR Sprint Cup race is as good of place as any. That makes for a strong first impression. Aaron’s has been great to me since coming to MWR in May. I’d love to have repeat performance in victory lane this weekend. We have as good a shot as anyone. MWR builds really good superspeedway cars and I am confident we’ll be strong. I think between myself, Michael and (MWR teammate) Clint (Bowyer) we’d love to have a victory and a couple top-five finishes for the other two.”
NOTES:
· WALTRIP IN No. 98: Waltrip will drive the MWR-supported No. 98 Maxwell House Toyota Sunday in Talladega. Ragan (2), Waltrip (4) and Bowyer (2) have combined for eight restrictor plate race victories in their careers.
· No. 55 POLE: Brian Vickers won the pole for this race in 2014 driving the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota.
· WALTRIP BROTHERS CHARITY CHAMPIONSHIP: Michael and Darrell will host the sixth annual Waltrip Brothers Charity Championship auction, dinner and golf tournament on Wednesday and Thursday in Nashville. The event has raised more than $1.4 million dollars for several non-profit organizations including Motor Racing Outreach, Feed the Children and the (Steve) Byrnes Memorial Fund. Headlining this year’s dinner is two-time Grammy Award winning musician Travis Tritt.
· AARON’S: Aaron’s offers top name brands in furniture, electronics and appliances – without needing credit – with affordable monthly payments. Aaron’s makes lease ownership easy by offering customers the option to lease to own online at Aarons.com with delivery and setup – or shop at one of more than 2,000 local Aaron’s stores all across North America. Aaron’s is ready to help customers own it and will work with them every step of the way. Aaron’s is celebrating its 60th Anniversary! Come take advantage of the anniversary lease rate of only $60 per month on select items from October 1-31. Visit Aarons.com for more details.
· No. 55 CREW CHIEF BRIAN PATTIE: Brian Pattie, 40, joined MWR in 2012 when it formed the No. 15 team-leading driver Clint Bowyer to three victories and a second-place finish in the 2012 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. The Zephyrhills, Fla., native began crew chief duties in the XFINITY Series for Joe Nemechek’s NEMCO Motorsports in 1997 before moving to a similar role at Earnhardt Ganassi Racing in 2004. In May 2008, he moved to the Sprint Cup Series with driver Juan Montoya. The duo earned a berth in the 2009 Chase and a win at Watkins Glen in 2010. Pattie owns four Sprint Cup and 10 XFINITY Series victories as a crew chief. The father of four is an avid golfer and supporter of the Florida State Seminoles. In June 2015, MWR paired Pattie with Ragan on its No. 55 team.
· 55 CREW:
Brian Pattie
Crew Chief
Ryan Langley
Front Tire Changer
Chris Hall
Front Tire Carrier
Shannon Myers
Rear Tire Changer
Blake Haugland
Rear Tire Carrier
Wes Evans
Jack Man
Jeff Kerr
Gas Man
Steve Channing
Car Chief
David Cropps
Interior Mechanic
Roman Pemberton
Spotter
Brandon Pope
Engineer
Tim O’Brien
Engineer
Jeremy Sharpley
Shock Specialist
Billy Curwood
Engineer
Kevin White
Front Mechanic
Joe Zanolini
Rear Mechanic
Scott Swift
Tire Specialist
Kirk Butterfield
TRD
Tim Bruce
TRD
Stump Lewis
Truck Driver
Al Nelson
2nd Truck Driver
· CAREER STATISTICS:
MWR
DAVID RAGAN
BRIAN PATTIE
· TELEVISION
Friday, Oct. 23
1 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, FS1
2 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN
3 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, FS1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America Live, NBCSN
Saturday, Oct. 24
10:30 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FS1
1 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series fred’s 250 presented by Coca-Cola, FOX
4 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN
Sunday, Oct. 25
10 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
Noon, NASCAR America Sunday, NBCSN
2 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Post-Race, NBCSN
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN
10:30 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FS1
