David Ragan

David Ragan, No. 34 Scorpion Truck Bed Liners Ford

Starting Position: 25

Finishing Position: 43

After waiting an extra 30 hours for the green flag to fly on the rain-delayed Daytona 500, David Ragan's race ended just as soon as it finally started.

After starting 25th in his Scorpion Truck Bed Liners Ford under the lights at Daytona International Speedway, Ragan only completed one lap before being collected in a multi-car wreck.  The melee started near the front of the field when Elliott Sadler made contact with Jimmie Johnson's car, and Ragan couldn't check up fast enough to clear the careening No. 48.

After a hard hit, Ragan was taken to the infield care center where he was evaluated and released.  He was credited with a 43rd-place finish.

Comments from Scorpion Truck Bed Liners team driver David Ragan after the Daytona 500:

"It is disappointing. I was just now trying to see the monitor to see who I can be mad at. It is ridiculous to sit around this long for the Daytona 500 and on the very first lap for someone to be driving as reckless as whoever caused that -- someone had to cause it. It is just a shame for it to be that early in the biggest race, the first race of the year. We just got caught up in it. We were content on riding in the beginning and minding our Ps and Qs. They started wrecking in front of us and we just couldn't get out of the way quick enough. It is very disappointing for our Scorpion Truck Bed Liners team. We will have to pick up and move on. I can't wait to see who was the bonehead that did that."

David Gilliland

David Gilliland, No. 38 MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford

Starting Position: 33

Finishing Position: 23  

David Gilliland finished 23^rd in the rain-delayed Daytona 500 after being involved in the last accident of the evening.  Although a top-25 result, the finish was disappointing after Gilliland felt as though his MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford was capable of a top-10.  The team, however, isn't too disappointed considering the unusual circumstances surrounding the 54^th annual Daytona 500. 

For Gilliland, his race began starting from the rear of the field after having to go to a backup car when his primary machine was involved in an accident during Thursday's qualifying event.  That proved to be a blessing since the "pack" racing made things unpredictable.  Gilliland elected to race his No. 38 MHP Ford in the back of the field for much of the first 150 laps of the race. A caution on Lap 158 set Gilliland up for the final 40 laps.

New crew chief Pat Tryson had chosen to not immediately pit when the caution came out, but instead wait one more lap to ensure a full tank of fuel. Right before Gilliland was about to come down pit road, Juan Pablo Montoya collided with a jet dryer, causing a huge fire and a red flag.  Gilliland was scored in the fourth position and was ready to walk away with his second consecutive top-five finish in the Daytona 500.  But, NASCAR officials were able to restart the race and Gilliland came down pit road for fuel. 

Once the race returned to green, Gilliland again held back waiting for another big accident.  That happened on Lap 189 when seven cars crashed on the frontstretch.  The team escaped without damage with Gilliland driving right through the wreck.  The race went back green with less than 10 laps left and Gilliland knew it was time to charge through the rest of the remaining field.  He was doing just that when he was clipped from behind and wrecked into the frontstretch wall on Lap 198.  The damage was severe to the body, but the car was still drivable.  Gilliland held on for the final laps to finish with the MHP/Power Pak Pudding Ford in 23^rd.

Comments from MHP/Power Pak Pudding team driver David Gilliland after the Daytona 500:

"We made it through one accident, barely made it through that one, but just got collected in the last one. We knew there was going to be a few wrecks, so we were just being smart. We waited, but then had to go. The track was fine, the weather was holding off and we had a good car. I was moving up with a lot of momentum, but there just isn't much room here at Daytona. We ended up tearing up a good car, too. Looking at the cars around the garage, we ended up in a lot better shape than a lot of guys. We still got a top-25 finish out of it even after having so many problems.

"We're not third in points like we were last year, but we felt like we were strong all day. The pit crew was great, I had fun working with Pat (Tryson) for the first time and I think we were a contender. We were caught up in the circumstances, but we're not in a huge hole. We can now go to Phoenix and start working on getting into the top-20. I'm a bit bummed about tonight, but not totally. There are good things to come." 

Tony Raines

Tony Raines, No. 26 Santorum for President Ford

Starting Position: 41

Finishing Position: 19

The feel-good story of the underdog No. 26 car continued on Monday night as Tony Raines earned a top-20 finish in the Daytona 500 in the Rick Santorum for President Ford.

The No. 26 team came to Daytona not having a guaranteed spot in the starting field for the Great American Race, but Raines and the team qualified for the event on speed after turning a fast lap during last week's qualifying session.  Taking the green flag in 41st, Raines' strategy was to stay put in the back of the field for most of the race to avoid any trouble up front, in hopes of bringing home a good finish in the end.  The strategy worked, with Raines staying clear of multiple wrecks throughout the event.

Through the first half of the race, Raines reported his car was a little tight turning and that his splitter was scraping the track.  By Lap 60, he had fallen a lap down.  But the team made adjustments on the car to keep it fast and keep Raines in position for the "Lucky Dog" pass.  He earned it on a Lap-80 caution and returned to the lead lap, where he ran competitively for the rest of the race.

Smart pit strategy almost earned the team a top-five finish.  When the race went under a red flag on Lap 160 after the jet dryer fire, Raines was sitting in third.  With extensive repairs required on the track, and threats of rain moving in to the area, the team was looking at a potential podium finish if the race was not restarted.  But after a two-hour-plus delay, the cars were refired and the race continued.

Raines was sitting in 11th for the race's final restart on Lap 200 -- a green-white-checkered finish -- and looking at a potential top-10. But coming around the final turns, he had to ease off the throttle to avoid contact as the field bunched up for the finish.  He crossed the line in 19th.

Comments from Santorum for President team driver Tony Raines after the Daytona 500:

"We got a top-20 and we didn't wreck the car, and I think that was kind of our mission to start with.  I think I was running about seventh going in to Turn 3 (on the final lap) and it got crowded.  I could've forced the issue but it was probably the better move to let off, but I'm a little mad at myself.  But I had fun today.  When it mattered, we were competitive.  We had a pretty fast car and got lucky a couple times and did a good job overall with our Rick Santorum for President Ford.  I think it was a good team effort.  I still would've liked to finish seventh, not 19th."

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