David Ragan/Aaron’s Dream Machine Richmond Preview

It’s all on the line Saturday night for No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota driver David Ragan and other drivers at Richmond International Raceway in the final race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular season.

Ragan is one of about a dozen drivers who know the only way they will join in the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup is by winning at the .75-mile, D-shaped oval.

Ragan says racing when the pressure is on is nothing new to any Sprint Cup driver.

“Ever since each of us climbed in a race car we’ve wanted to win every race,” said Ragan. “So, Saturday night will be no different. The rewards are far greater, but every weekend we do the things we need to do to win.

“There’s nothing I’d like more than to win Saturday night for Aaron’s, Michael Waltrip Racing and Toyota. We’re going to give it our best shot.”

Ragan said the importance of Saturday’s race combined with the nature of short track racing should make for an exciting event, before the 10-race Chase begins.

“You saw how good of a race it was at Darlington and I expect it will be even better at Richmond. The racing of late has been pretty good. I think the fans will get their money’s worth and more.”

The Michael Waltrip Racing driver has raced in the top 10 and at times looked like a top five-car at recent races, but accidents have ruined good runs.

Ragan was spun running in the top-five at Bristol. Saturday night in Darlington, he drove from 21st to tenth in the first 30 laps and climbed to ninth before an accident. 

“We had a really fast Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota at Darlington and on a long run I felt like we had a top-six or seven car, but overall I felt like we had a 10th to 12th-place car. Hadn’t put a scratch on our car all night then got loose off turn four and hit pretty good. The car was still decent then we were wrecked a few laps later,” he said.

“We’ve shown we have the speed, we just need to put a full race together and I’d love for us to do that Saturday night in Richmond.”

MWR PR