Although it has not been officially announced, it seems quite apparent that Ryan Newman — who is at Halifax Medical Center in serious condition following a crash on the final lap of the Daytona 500 — will not be able to compete in this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
This has ratcheted up speculation of who could fill in for the 42-year old Newman in Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 6 Ford Mustang.
While we don’t have any indications who will compete this weekend for the No. 6 team, we have our first confirmation of who won’t be filling in — David Ragan.
Ragan finished fourth in the season-opening Daytona 500 and sits eighth in the NASCAR Cup Series championship battle, but he had no other races planned on his schedule past Daytona.
The intriguing thing that fueled speculation of Ragan is the fact that Ragan’s Cup Series career began in RFR’s No. 6 machine.
However, on Wednesday morning, Ragan shot down the rumors on Twitter.
A Twitter user told Ragan, “I just thought of a perfect driver to take over the @roushfenway 6 car, who is available, @davidragan“
Ragan responded by saying he already had plans for the weekend with his family.
“The family and I have big plans on Saturday to stop by the local flea market. So I am out,” Tweeted Ragan.
The family and I have big plans on Saturday to stop by the local flea market. So I am out. https://t.co/ra9axsP0gj
— David Ragan (@DavidRagan) February 19, 2020
Speculation will undoubtedly run rampant until a fill-in driver is announced, but there are several great and deserving candidates who can take care of the No. 6 car until Newman is ready to return.
