David Ragan to be sponsored by UPS
The 22-year-old Ragan barely missed making NASCAR’s Chase For The Sprint Cup this year, his second season of full-time Cup competition. The American Automobile Association, which has sponsored Ragan the last two years, is not sponsoring a Cup car next year.
"I'm thrilled and excited to here this morning," Ragan said at the announcement at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, site of Sunday's Sylvania 300. "… To be talking about the 2009 racing season already, combining great groups of people like the UPS family, the 425,000-plus employees they have, the Fenway Sports Group, Roush Fenway Racing, I think that's a pretty good combination to talk about going into the 2009 season and beyond. We've still got 10 races to go this year. We need to find victory lane, get our team into championship form, and I think we've got a pretty good schedule to do that.
"We've had a solid season. This has been a big week for us. Barely missing the Chase at Richmond was certainly a disappointment, but I think that gives us a little more drive, starting here this weekend at New Hampshire, to put our best foot forward, and when the checkered flag falls at Homestead, we're going to have a successful year. We're going to be 13th in points, and everybody's going to be talking about us and the new UPS Ford Fusion team."
UPS sponsored Dale Jarrett from 2001 until the driver’s retirement earlier this year. It has sponsored Jarrett’s Michael Waltrip Racing teammate David Reutimann for most of this season.
UPS has signed a three-year contract with Roush Fenway and Ragan which will include a new advertising campaign. The sponsorship is for all 36 points races next season.
“We are truly excited to start this relationship with David Ragan and one of NASCAR’s most respected and successful organizations," said Ron Rogowski, director of sponsorship for UPS. “This is a new chapter in the UPS sponsorship story, and we look forward to building a long and lasting relationship with such a dynamic driver and legendary organization.
“UPS prides itself on fast and reliable service and believes in innovation, and we expect to demonstrate those values through this relationship with David and Roush Fenway Racing."